UK Docks' teams focus on health and safety

THERE is nothing more important than health and safety in the workplace.

That’s especially relevant in the marine services industry where heavy machinery is continually operated and transported and where there are lots of moving parts at all levels which need to be overseen and safety protocols observed.

Heath and safety when operating all types of heavy machinery must always be of paramount importance.

At UK Docks Marine Services, constant vigilance and efforts to maintain the highest safety standards are at the forefront of our approach and we evolve that year-on-year and adapt to new recommendations and requirements as they emerge.

That’s one of the reasons why, as well as holding accreditation in ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018, UK Docks is a proud member of the Avetta consortium.

Avetta is the supply chain safety and sustainability expert which operates globally to support more than 130,000 contractors and 1.5 million workers.

They provide the foundation for clients, suppliers, contractors, workers and vendors to forge stronger relationships, ensuring safe and sustainable workplaces.

Photograph via Avetta website

Across the world, they enable and verify ongoing safety, environmental, social and financial performance, helping hiring companies build a strong and diverse contractor base wherever they operate.

Our accreditations and memberships underpin our commitment to health and safety, sustainability, quality standards and creating a safer work environment for everyone involved in our businesses.

Nothing is more important than the safety of every member of our team.

# ThinkSafe, #WorkSafe, #HomeSafe.

Royal Navy’s new fleet of workboats to be serviced by UK Docks in Gosport and Cremyll

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.

Contractors sought for historic Gosport Rum Store redevelopment

TENDERS are being invited for contracts worth hundreds of thousands of pounds at Gosport’s former Royal Navy Rum Store, where the £8.5 million redevelopment of the Grade II-listed building is now imminent.

The derelict landmark on Victoria Quay, which used to house the entire Royal Navy’s rum rations, will be brought dramatically back to life in the next two years.

And UK Docks Marine Services, which owns the building, has invited tenders from construction firms for repairs, alteration and refurbishment works and improvements to the building and land around it.

Details of the work being offered can be accessed at the South East Business Portal or Contractservice.

The Royal Navy’s former Rum Store is waiting for contractors to begin its revitalisation.

The contracts are set to be awarded at the end of the year with work beginning at the start of 2025.

Ben Mason, UK Docks’ Portfolio Manager, said: “It’s an exciting time because, after so much preparatory work by so many people and organisations to get us this far, we’re now reaching the point where we’re about to see spades in the ground.

“This project will provide huge opportunities for Gosport residents and businesses and reinvigorate a disused historic building which people can be proud of once again.”

The Rum Store is at the heart of a successful Gosport Borough Council-led bid to secure £18m from the Government’s Levelling-Up Fund for its Reconnecting Historic Gosport Waterfront regeneration programme.

With extra match-funding from UK Docks, it represents a huge £30m investment in the 5.7-acre Victoria Quay site at Royal Clarence Yard.

Recent decades had seen a decline in the area, mirroring the reduction of the Royal Navy but since the arrival of UK Docks in 2019, the area has been steadily on the up but the Government funding is a game-changer.

The major works, due to be completed by 2026 in its first phase, include renovation of the 6,890sqm Rum Store to provide new mixed-use space, centred around the maritime sector.

There will also be public realm enhancements to the coastal route, encouraging more visitors and connecting the town centre to the waterfront and Gosport’s historic fortifications.

An aerial view of the former Royal Navy Rum Store shows the scale of the area set to be brought back into working life in Gosport.

That first phase will see the Rum Store provide workshops, office space and retail units for a range of maritime businesses such as sailmakers, chandleries, naval architects, yacht brokers, and maritime training providers.

Other units will offer retail and hospitality, including a second-floor restaurant and bar with a rooftop terrace.

Between 150 and 200 jobs are expected to be created which will help deliver an estimated £11m annual boost to the local economy.

UK Docks’ Ben Mason stressed that everything that has been achieved or set to be achieved on the project is the result of collaboration by multiple agencies, (including local MP, Dame Caroline Dineage), working together for a common goal.

Dame Caroline Dineage MP with UK Docks' Ben Mason at the derelict former Royal Navy Rum Store, soon to be restored.

"It has been an ambition for UK Docks since purchasing the site that the area regains its full potential, but we couldn’t do it on our own,” said Ben.

“Working with Gosport Borough Council has given us access to Government funding and helped unlock solutions to problems that were bigger than just our site, such as local infrastructure.

“The council has exciting big plans for regeneration in the borough and we’re delighted to be a partner in that.”

• Contractors seeking details of the works required with a view to potentially tendering should go to the South East Business Portal or Contractservice.

UK Docks’ contribution to armed forces recognised with prestigious Silver Award

UK DOCKS’ commitment to the country’s armed forces has been recognised with a Silver Award under the Employer’s Recognition Scheme.

The scheme recognises individual company's commitments to the Armed Forces Covenant in their business practices.

The company had previously been a Bronze Award holder and has moved up to Silver Award status by attaining a higher standard within the Armed Forces Covenant and by making additional commitments. 

Those include encouraging ex-service personnel, supporting and encouraging families of ex or serving personnel and committing to supporting and having a policy for Reservists.

UK Docks also actively promotes the armed forces and supporters of the armed forces such as the Cadet organisation as well as veterans' society's and charities. 

The company itself has 15 ex-service personnel at its North East base and employs four people who have direct relations serving in the armed forces.

Ultimately, UK Docks’ ambition is to continue progress and to achieve a Gold Award but for the moment the company is celebrating the landmark of reaching Silver. 

Stephen Lee, the company’s operations director, who led efforts to achieve Silver Award standards, said: "The North East, as a region, has long been a major supporter of the UK’s armed forces and as a North East family-owned business it is with profound gratitude and unwavering commitment that we honour the Armed Forces Covenant. 

“As a company, we are proud to contribute to the armed forces through our multiple services and support contracts, including the work at our Gosport base in Portsmouth harbour, with its rich naval tradition.

“All across our bases in the country we stand united in our support of the men and women of the UK's armed forces, ensuring they receive the recognition, respect, and support they deserve. 

“We appreciate that we are in a position to offer those who have served the opportunity to transition into civilian life, by giving them a workplace that is open and familiar to them in  respect of their day-to-day business.

“It also helps that many of their colleagues at UK Docks will have made that same transition and can offer support when required"

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same.

The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

• UK Docks will be formally presented with their Silver Award at a ceremony in October.

UK Docks' team ensures South Shields beach stays shipshape!

MORE than a dozen UK Docks’ staff broke out the bin bags and grabbed their grabby sticks for a beach clean at the company’s River Drive headquarters in South Shields.

The beach clean was the first of a series planned to help one of the town’s main attractions remain pristine and clean for visitors over the summer.

Managing director, Jonathan Wilson, said: “We’ve planned to do this for some time and now that we’ve got the first under our belt, we’re up and running.

“As a marine engineering firm, the river and the sea are obviously hugely important to us but we also appreciate how lucky we are to be in a particularly attractive part of the world with the South Shields’ coastline and its beautiful beaches.

“It’s a great place for our team to work.

“We want to keep it that way and the beach clean is just one of a number of small ways we’ve decided we can help out.”

The clean was led by engineering support manager Mike Spooner and organised by office manager, Emma Bryson. 

The team spent an afternoon on the beaches and car park around the Littlehaven beach and thoroughly cleaned around the Conversation Place statues - known locally as the Weebles.

Mike said: “It was great to get out in the fresh air and do something positive for the local environment. 

“While the area does not appear to have a massive amount of litter at first glance, once you start looking and picking you see more and more. 

“In particular we found many plastic items, which would otherwise stay in the environment for a very long time. 

“As well as the impact on the natural environment, I feel litter has a large adverse effect on the look and feel of an area for visitors and locals alike. 

“By doing this litter pick we’ve made a small difference to the environment, but it also improved our own physical and mental well-being and hopefully might inspire other companies locally to do the same”.

UK Docks was founded in South Shields in 1992 by Harry Wilson, who was made an MBE in the King’s most recent Birthday Honours List.

From that single slipway has grown a company of national and international significance, now run by Harry’s sons Jonathan, Gary and Chris.

As well as South Shields, it runs operations in dockyards on Teesside, as well as boatyards on the south coast at Gosport in Portsmouth and Cremyll.

Last year it signed a £250 million contract to service and maintain the Royal Navy’s five Batch 2 vessels worldwide - HMS’s Tamar, Trent, Forth, Medway and Spey - and continues to service the navy’s only icebreaker, HMS Protector.

Further expansion is planned but the company takes its social responsibilities seriously at all its bases.

A further litter pick this summer is due to take place with South Shields Sea Cadets joining UK Docks staff.

UK Docks' founder Harry Wilson. recently made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list, is the long-serving president of South Shields cadets.

UK Docks founder Harry Wilson awarded royal honour in Kings Birthday List 2024

UK DOCKS’ founder and chairman Harry Wilson has been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the country’s marine engineering industry.

Harry was named in the King’s Birthday Honours List for 2024 and will travel to Buckingham Palace to pick up his award later this year.

He said: “ “I'd heard whispers about something like this a while ago but nothing seemed to happen so I assumed it wasn’t going to and it came as a complete surprise when the letter dropped through the door.

"I had thought at 82 I might be past my sell-by date but it's a great honour to be given and I look forward to collecting it, although I don't know yet when that will be."

The award recognises Harry’s contribution to the marine industry since founding UK Docks on a single slipway in South Shields in 1992.

Since then, the company has expanded across the region and and across the country with docks on Teesside and on the south coast at Gosport and Cremyll.

Having established itself as a leading name in the UK’s ship repair industry, UK Docks has moved increasingly into servicing Ministry of Defence contracts for the Royal Navy.

Those efforts culminated last year with the winning of a £250m contract to service and maintain five Batch 2 vessels across the globe.

Now employing more than 200 people, one of the key driving forces behind the growth of the business has been Harry’s desire to regenerate areas of industrial decline and give something back to the community, including creating jobs.

In 2014 Harry saw the opportunity to expand the company’s ship repair facilities to Teesside, an area of high unemployment, and regenerated the dry docks which had been unused for over 20 years and required complete refurbishment.

The Teesside ship repair business has now been brought back to life, creating jobs, pride, and apprenticeship and attracting ship owners from the UK, Europe and beyond.

Since then, UK Docks has taken over and modernised Mashford Yards in Cremylll, Cornwall, Victoria Quay in Gosport and has also revitalised Royal Clarence Yard in Portsmouth which now has a deep-water berth, ship lift travel hoist and workshops.

Harry said: "The object of the exercise, after founding UK Docks and being able to make a living out of it, was to genuinely put something back into the ship repair industry.

"I'd had a pretty decent life from it, not necessarily an easy one, but a decent one and I believed in the industry and its potential and wanted to see it do well.

"I'm pleased to see that UK Docks has been able to grow over the years, developing dockyards in the North East and now all around the country, helping the marine industry to survive and flourish and create hundreds of jobs for the company and its supply chain that might not otherwise have been there.

"I've been lucky to have three sons who have all been interested in the business and have been able to take the company from strength to strength over the years and ensured that it has grown from local to regional to national and now, especially with the Ministry of Defence contracts, a global concern.”

The day-to-day running of the business is now managed by Harry’s sons Chris, Gary and Jonathan.

UK Docks' Harry Wilson and sons, l to r Jonathan, Harry, Gary and Chris

Jonathan said of the MBE: "It's fantastic news for him, for our family and for UK Docks as a company.

"We're obviously immensely proud of him - he's a one-off.

"It was Harry who had this vision of developing ship repair and re-opening yards at a time when so many others were closing and he's been proven right in his decision-making time after time.

"He's got a great reputation in our industry and he's responsible for what this company has grown into today.

"We've known how special he is all our lives but it's great that it has been officially recognised in this way.

"It's also, I think, a recognition of his charity work over the years because he has strongly supported a number of important causes and in particular has been a long-time supporter of South Shields Sea Cadets." 

Seawork Exhibition will see friends reunited as well as new contacts made

UK Docks will be one of the major exhibitors at Seawork - Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine and workboat exhibition - being held in Southampton next week.

The event will bring together businesses nationally and globally in a major networking event in the industry where new contacts and new contracts are forged.

But as well as creating new links, the event also helps cement existing ones - like the one that UK Docks has with Kent-based travel company Marine Travel - who will also be exhibiting at Seawork.

Marine Travel is a dedicated provider of maritime travel logistics; covering a cross-section of marine-related businesses throughout the UK and worldwide.

Pictured, left to right, Marine Travel’s Samantha Collins (key account executive), Emily Sullivan (consultant) Claire Hewitt (finance and administration director) and Neil Payne (reservations supervisor, UK).

Since UK Docks’ expanded more and more in recent years into servicing Ministry of Defence contracts - and in particular since the clinching of a £250m contract to service and marine the Royal Navy’s five Batch 2 vessels globally - the two companies have worked hand in glove on international travel missions.

With UK Docks now regularly working in bases as far afield as The Falklands, Gibraltar, Singapore and Canada, Marine Travel has becoming increasingly important to UK Docks in getting teams to where they need to be, anywhere in the world, safely, efficiently and on time.

UK Docks managing director Jonathan Wilson said: “We are really looking forward to the Seawork Exhibition which is such a key date in our company calendar and important to our business.

“But we’re also looking forward to meeting up with contacts in the marine industry that we work with closely but rarely get a chance to meet in person, so it’s great that Sam Collins, who we deal with regularly, and the rest of the Marine Travel team will be there.”

Marine Travel prides itself on understanding the unique needs and challenges of the marine travel sector. It tailors its services to meet those specific requirements so that customers have a seamless experience.

Key account executive, Sam, said: “It will be great to meet the UK Docks team in person because they’re fantastic to deal with and always appreciate the efforts we make on their behalf to provide 24/7 support for any travel-related issues that may arise.

"Promoting our business services at Seawork is important to us but we plan to enjoy ourselves too and meeting up with everyone at UK Docks will be a pleasure.”

UK Docks will be exhibiting alongside Brunvoll AS - the Norwegian company which is a leading provider of propulsion and manoeuvring systems worldwide. UK Docks are their sole sales and service agent in the UK and Ireland.

Ben Mason, Porfolio manager based at Victoria Quay in Gosport, Portsmouth harbour, will be co-ordinating UK Docks’ work at Seawork, which runs from Tuesday, June 11th-Thursday, June 13th.

He said: “UK Docks has got a great story to tell, especially about our success in winning important contracts in recent years and we’re looking forward to telling it to delegates.

“We’ll be letting people know all about our facilities along the south coast and the north east, about our work with the Ministry of Defence, and about our work on boats big and small as well as the docks facilities themselves. “

New customer and new vessel as Sand Falcon completes successful docking

UK Docks was delighted to welcome a new customer and vessel to its Teesside facility with the arrival of Cemex UK Marine Ltd’s Sand Falcon last month.

The Sand Falcon has now completed a successful four-week docking period.

Pictured, from left are: Toby Emerson, UK Docks Ship Manager, Ben Manfield, Marine Superintendent, Cemex, and Sean Duncan, UK Docks Ship Manager.

Sand Falcon work scope included: a full HP wash, main propeller blade removal and replacements, Sea tube liner removal and replacement, hull painting, internal and external dredge pipework removals and renewals, alternators removals, structural steelwork, fabrication & welding.

Toby Emerson, UK Docks Ship Manager said: “It was a pleasure to work on this project. 

“My thanks go out to our workforce and subcontract supply chain for delivering the project work scope in a safe and timely manner.

Sean Duncan, UK Docks Ship Manager said- The project went very well, with all works completed within the agreed schedule and, most importantly, safely. 

“It was great to welcome Cemex UK Marine Ltd to UK Docks Marine Services, and I hope we will have the opportunity to work with them again soon.”

Ben Manfield, Cemex Marine Superintendent noted: “A very well executed first docking at UK Docks, especially given the unfamiliarity with the vessel and unexpected additions to the workscope. 

“All works completed to a high standard whilst adhering to the highest levels of safety which Cemex expects from any of its contractors. 

“Congratulations and thanks to all involved.”   

Pictured, from left are: Toby Emerson, UK Docks Ship Manager, Ben Manfield, Marine Superintendent, Cemex, and Sean Duncan, UK Docks Ship Manager.

Seawork mega-exhibition is just the job for UK Docks

Final preparations are being put in place by the UK Docks’ team for the most important industry exhibition in the company’s calendar this year.

The prestigious annual Seawork Exhibition in Southampton draws in marine industry professionals from across the globe and UK Docks will be part of it with an exhibit stand alongside long-term partners, propulsion providers Brunvoll AS.

Throughout the year, UK Docks attends dozens of exhibitions but Seawork is one of the few at which the company actively and annually exhibits.

UK Docks managing director Jonathan Wilson, said: “Seawork is Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine and workboat exhibition and over the years it has been a great way of putting what we do in the shop window.

“It’s very important the markets know what it is you do and what you can provide and that’s especially true of a company like UK Docks which operates out of multiple bases and provides such a wide range of services.”

“Being part of Seawork allows us to go into detail about our services nationally and our ability to operate internationally.

The UK Docks stand, alongside Brunvoll AS is always a popular destination site for Seawork visitors

This year, Seawork takes place between Tuesday, June 11th and Thursday, June 13th and will have the honour of marking its 25th anniversary with a visit from Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, who will officially open the exhibition at the Mayflower Park in Southampton.

The UK Docks delegation will be led by Ben Mason, portfolio manager based at Victoria Quay and director David Barley, based at Endeavour Quay, both in Gosport.

Ben said: “Seawork is always a good opportunity for the company to showcase our capabilities and UK Docks has had a great start to the year winning multiple defence contracts, so we are excited to be at the exhibition this year”

“Seawork is a great place to do business and it is rare to find so many stakeholders all in the one place, all looking to network and develop the profiles of their organisations.

UK Docks’ exhibition stand is at E18/E19 and is 10 metres by four metres and two-and-a-half metres high, and alongside Brunvoll AS, makes the pitch a destination site in the venue.

David said: “We always enjoy taking part, our stand is very open plan and this year we have designed it so that it is modern, colourful, informative and comfortable so that we can host, entertain and have meaningful discussions with current and potential clients, suppliers and partners alike”

“So it’s a great place to meet and share knowledge, as well as promoting the work you do, which, in terms of Endeavour Quay, will be particularly focused around work boats following our recent success with winning an MoD contract, as well as a variety of other boats up to 50 metres.

“Apart from that, it’s an excellent profile-raising awareness event for us centred around our five yards, showing the variety of boats and ships we provide services for, with the aim of growing our customer base.”

Young apprentices attend prestigious marine engineering event, courtesy of UK Docks

THE UK’s young marine engineers of the future will gain invaluable insights at a prestigious Royal Navy event featuring some of the industry’s leading lights later this week.

UK Docks is sponsoring a table of young engineers at the Marine Engineering General Service Branch Dinner (MEGS) held at the Royal Naval base HMS Sultan in Gosport in Hampshire this Thursday.

Kevin Daffey of Rolls-Royce, (pictured), who heads a team of 230 engineers, is the guest speaker but the young engineers will also benefit from the chance to network with public figures such as Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy, Commodore Steve Large OBE and senior Royal Navy engineering officers.

This is the sixth annual MEGS dinner and will be enjoyed by 178 personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Marine Engineers, who will be wishing well to those who are leaving and welcoming those new to the MEGS Branch.

The formal Naval dinner is an ‘in-house’ event open to serving MEGS Officers, warrant officers and Shadow Board members of all ranks as well as including space for veterans. 

The evening is intended to encourage the sharing of ideas and networking across the Marine Engineer General Service (MEGS) branch. 

UK Docks MD, Jonathan Wilson, said: “We are delighted to sponsor a table of young marine engineers because we understand how important it is that emerging talent is encouraged and that they see a clear path in ways of progressing their careers.

“Being introduced to new ideas and information and making contacts, especially with leaders in marine engineering, can only be helpful to them

“The UK Docks management team will also be there on the night to represent the company  and is we’re also looking forward to an important event on the marine engineering calendar.”

Guest speaker Kevin Daffey FREng, is a former President of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST), representing 19,000 marine engineers and scientists. 

Kevin Daffey of Rolls Royce, MEGS guest speaker

He is responsible for Rolls-Royce Solutions Governmental Engineering and NautIQ Solutions which delivers marine and naval, power, propulsion, automation, electrical and autonomous systems for both commercial and Naval marine sectors.

A seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in the marine industry, fostering innovation and efficiency, he has also worked extensively with the Ministry of Defence.

He has presented to the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) and UK Parliamentary Committees on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, contributing significantly to discussions in the maritime and engineering spheres. 

In 2022, Kevin was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering for his major contributions in electric propulsion, dynamic positioning, artificial intelligence and electrical safety and his talk is eagerly anticipated.

Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy, MSc CEng CMarEng MAPM FIMarEST is Director Ships Operations and Capability Integration - UK Defence Equipment and Support Chief Naval Engineer Officer of the Royal Navy.

Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy

He took up his current role in UK Defence Equipment and Support in 2023 and is responsible for the Portfolio Management of through-life availability and capability integration of Royal Navy Ships, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ships and UK Ministry of Defence Boats.

He was appointed Chief Naval Engineer Officer in 2023, with the responsibility to implement the Naval Engineering Strategy and to champion the profession’s contribution to the Royal Navy’s operational success.

Commodore Stephen Large was awarded the OBE in 2023 for his leadership in delivering notable improvements in environmental protection and the safety management and governance of Royal Navy ships. 

Commodore Large

He was promoted to Commodore in July last year and assigned Head of Naval Ship Support, accountable for the delivery of in-service support of all Royal Navy warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries - a portfolio valued at £700m a year.