Keel laid at Appledore shipyard for first of three Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships
Navantia UK’s Appledore shipyard celebrates a key moment in the construction of three new ships to support the Royal Navy
Workers and dignitaries at Appledore shipyard have marked a milestone moment as the keel was laid for the first of three Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships being built at the yard.
It marks the formal start of assembly for the new RFA Resurgent at the yard, owned by Navantia UK.
The Resurgent is one of three Fleet Solid Support ships which will be partly constructed at Appledore before the components are shipped to Navantia’s Belfast yard for final assembly.
The milestone saw the lowering of the first block, a section of RFA Resurgent’s bow, onto the Seahorse barge in Appledore’s dry dock.
The barge will carry completed blocks from Appledore to Belfast. In keeping with shipbuilding tradition, a commemorative coin was placed beneath the section for good fortune.
Once operational the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships will support Royal Navy vessels with resupply while at sea.
During the ceremony, visiting dignitary Commodore Sam Shattock also revealed the names of the second and third Fleet Solid Support vessels: RFA Reliant and RFA Resourceful.
The keel-laying was initiated by apprentices from Navantia UK Appledore and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
The ceremony took place yesterday (Thursday, September 3) on Merchant Navy Day, which celebrates the UK’s civilian seafarers, including the men and women of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said: “The Royal Fleet Auxiliary are the backbone of our Royal Navy and these new ships will keep our navy ready to operate at range for longer.
“Seeing the steel cut for RFA Resurgent last year was a proud moment and today’s keel laying shows real momentum behind this vital programme.
“This investment is helping bolster UK shipbuilding, backing thousands of skilled jobs and apprenticeships in Appledore, Belfast and beyond.”
Donato Martínez, CEO of Navantia UK, said: “Today is an important moment for Fleet Solid Support, for Appledore and for the renewal of UK shipbuilding. The laying of the keel marks the formal start of assembly of the first ship and is clear evidence of the momentum we have built across the programme.
“FSS is helping to rebuild sovereign industrial capability in the UK. We are investing in shipyards, creating skilled jobs, developing apprentices and strengthening the supply chain that will support future naval programmes.
“At Appledore, shipbuilding has returned to a yard with more than 170 years of history. We are investing in its facilities and its people, while building the capability needed not only for FSS, but for the next generation of naval vessels, including the autonomous and uncrewed platforms that will form part of the future Hybrid Navy.”
The three Fleet Solid Support ships will provide munitions, stores and provisions to Royal Navy task groups at sea, enabling ships including the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers to remain deployed for longer and operate at greater distance from their home ports.
At around 39,000 tonnes and 216 metres long, the vessels will be the largest ships in UK military service after the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.