Construction of a new modern support ship for the Royal Navy has begun today, following a steel cutting ceremony in Devon – boosting jobs, skills and growth.
The ship, which has today been named RFA Resurgent, will strengthen the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) by providing next-generation support for the Royal Navy and its construction, News Cover reports, citing UK government.
This latest delivery of a Strategic Defence Review commitment will help ensure that the Royal Navy is ready to operate anywhere in the world by delivering crucial support, including restocking food stores and munitions and embarking specialist crews when needed.
The Fleet Solid Support programme shows how defence is an engine for growth, with £115 million invested across four shipyards - creating 1,200 skilled jobs, as well as recruiting 222 apprentices.
This follows the Government’s decisive action last year to step in and help secure the future of all four Harland & Wolff shipyards in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Devon – protecting skilled jobs at historic shipyards across the UK. And, for the first time in more than a decade, all four of the shipyards are at work, delivering defence capability.
The North Devon shipyard will construct the bow sections of the ships, with Appledore now employing 200 people. Twenty new apprentices were recruited this year in partnership with Petroc College.
Construction of ship modules will take place at Navantia’s Appledore yard, while final assembly, integration and trials of the ships will take place at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.
