UK DOCKS has been awarded a £4million contract to service and maintain the Royal Navy’s new fleet of SEA Class Vahana workboats.
The company, which delivers marine services nationwide and supports the navy globally, will run the operation from its Gosport base with work being carried out at Gosport in Portsmouth Harbour and Cremyll in Cornwall.
The Ministry of Defence has received 35 workboats as part of Project Vahana, (an ambitious £48 million modernisation programme of its small boat flotilla), and the vessels have already delivered a whole new range of operational benefits.
HMS Raleigh - one of the fleet of Project Vahana workboats
They are used for several roles from logistics support, officer training, hydrographic survey and passenger transport to dive support and training.
The last of the vessels, dubbed the ‘Land Rover of the Seas’ because of their versatility and durability, was received by the navy only last month,
However, serving and maintaining them will be key and the Royal Navy hopes the initial two-year contract between MOD procurement arm Defence Equipment & Support will eventually lead to the seamless running of the vessels over the long term.
UK Docks already services and maintains multiple navy vessels and is proud to have extended its role.
Training workboat at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Jonathan Wilson, UK Docks managing director, said: “We are delighted to secure this contract which gives the company the chance to demonstrate its ability to provide the high standards and quality of service the navy demands.
“Winning important contracts like this does not come easily - a lot of work goes into making them happen and competition is intense because you are up against some of the best companies in the world in this field.
“So I would like to praise the UK Docks team that worked so hard to put together the successful bid to maintain the workboats and look forward to them keeping the vessels performing at their very best.”
The contract was awarded by the Boats Team at Defence Equipment and support, the procurement arm of the MOD.
Rosy Copping-Bull, Project Manager for the DE&S Boats Team, said: "We are pleased to be growing our relationship with UK Docks to now include the in-service support and capability maintenance of these Vahana Workboats which are an essential part of the Royal Navy's military operations including diving, surveying and training.
“The vital work carried out in Gosport and Cremyll to maintain these vessels will be instrumental in helping our nation prosper now and in the future."
HMS Magpie - one of the last of the Project Vahana workboats delivered to the Royal Navy.
One of the benefits of investing in the Vahana workboats is that it will standardise maintenance and spare parts making the Royal Navy operation much more efficient in terms of UK Docks being able to carry out the work swiftly.
Ben Mason, portfolio manager at UK Docks, said: “It’s great to extend our links with the Royal Navy and take on the job of maintaining the Vahana workboats, designed and built by Atlas Electronik UK.
“UK Docks has invested heavily in our Gosport facilities in recent years and increased employment precisely to handle contracts like these.
“Our expanded capacity and investment in staff means the Vahana workboats will be maintained to operate at optimum levels and continue carrying out the important work they do.”
The vessels are operated from UK home ports, Royal Navy surface vessels and survey vessels. One is based in Gibraltar.
All SEA Class boats achieve a minimum of 25 knots with whole-body vibration-absorbing seats minimising shock to reduce operator fatigue, allowing longer missions.
Propulsion is delivered by two Yanmar marine diesel engines which range from 350hp to 1000hp and Hamilton Waterjet propulsion providing safe, shallow water operations.
The propulsion system features the Hamilton Blue Arrow CAN Bus control system and mouse-boat control for optimum control and manoeuvrability.
The new support contract extends UK Docks' work with the Royal Navy.
The company currently maintains five Batch 2 River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels - HMS Medway, Spey, Forth, Trent and Tamar, as well as the Navy’s only icebreaker, HMS Protector.