BVT Surface Fleet
Encyclopedia
BAE Systems Surface Ships is a wholly owned subsidiary
company of BAE Systems
, specialising in naval
surface
shipbuilding
, systems integration and through-life support
. It is the largest shipbuilding company in the United Kingdom, and one of the largest in Europe.
It was formed as a joint stock
subsidiary on 1 July 2008, with the merger of BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions and VT Shipbuilding
, creating a new firm named BVT Surface Fleet. The new firm incorporated the BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions operated shipyard
s at Scotstoun
and Govan
on the River Clyde
in Glasgow
and the VT Shipbuilding facilities within the Naval Base
at Portsmouth
.
BAE Systems subsequently bought VT Group's share of the joint venture on 30 October 2009 and renamed the business BAE Systems Surface Ships.
encouraged BAE and VT Group to form a naval shipbuilding joint venture with the aim of maintaining the UK's naval shipbuilding capability in the long-term. In return the MOD signed a Terms of Business Agreement which pledged that the vast majority of its future naval orders will be placed with the new company for 15 years.
Explaining the rationale for the joint venture from VT Group's perspective, its CEO Paul Lester
described shipbuilding as a "lumpy" business, dependent on large contracts placed at irregular intervals. Another issue was the competition between VT and BAE: "We don't want to get into a dogfight with BAE over who would be the survivor... That's what you'd be talking about at some stage."
BAE and VT concluded the merger discussions in early 2008, however creation of BVT Surface Fleet was conditional on the signing of contracts for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. Following the Ministry of Defence's announcement on 20 May 2008 that it intended to proceed with the manufacturing stage of the project, BAE announced its intention to finalise the joint venture arrangements with VT Group. This was completed on 11 June 2008 and, following VT Group shareholder approval on 30 June, the joint venture became operational on 1 July.
BAE Systems and VT Group
owned 55% and 45% of the company respectively, however they had equal board representation and voting rights.
In return, VT Group acquired BAE System's 50% share in their other joint venture company Flagship Training, now known as VT Flagship. BVT Surface Fleet subsumed another BAE/VT joint venture, Fleet Support Limited
, a ship repair, maintenance and marine engineering company, based within HMNB Portsmouth
.
The new 15-year Terms of Business Agreement with the Ministry of Defence did result in some controversy however. On 30 June 2009, a BVT memo was leaked which suggested that two of the company's three shipyards could be closed following completion of Queen Elizabeth class carrier construction. In response to the leak, BVT said the memo was "worst case scenario planning" and that it continues to invest in the future of all its yards. However a MOD spokesman said "[the MOD] had to look at the consequences of reduced demand for navy shipbuilding."
s on the River Clyde
in Glasgow
: Scotstoun
(formerly Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd) and Govan
(formerly Kvaerner Govan
, Govan Shipbuilders
and Fairfields
), shipyards that have a corporate heritage extending back as far as 1834. VT Shipbuilding owned shipbuilding facilities completed in 2003 within HMNB Portsmouth
and a boatyard, VT Halmatic, in Portchester
. These facilities were transferred to BVT Surface Fleet, although the VT Halmatic yard was subsequently sold to Trafalgar Wharf
, with the Halmatic Small Boats Centre of Excellence moving to Portsmouth Naval Base. BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions also operated an additional project management centre at Filton
, near Bristol
, which was transferred to BVT. The BAE Systems Submarine Solutions Shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness
was not included in the joint venture, although since January 2011 Submarines and Surface Ships have been operationally integrated under BAE Systems Maritime.
, but not within three years. However on 28 January 2009 VT Group announced its intention to sell its share. VT Group's put option valued its share at a minimum of £380 million subject to conditions; however it received £346 million after various payments to BAE. From this, VT Group will pay £43 million to BVT for cost overruns on the Trinidad and Tobago and Oman contracts. Net proceeds of the sale to VT Group are thus £303 million.
and Babcock
will get a 16% share and the remaining 44% will be carried out by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions and BAE Systems Insyte. The company's shipyards have previously had experience of constructing large Amphibious assault ships, including the Ocean class LPH
, the Albion class LPD
and the Bay class LSD(A)s.
, which was previously built as a collaboration between BAE and VT Group. As of October 2010 Daring
, Dauntless
, Diamond
, Dragon
, Defender
and Duncan
have all been launched. The first of class entered service in May 2009.
BAE is studying the UXV Combatant
concept based on a destroyer hull for the operation of unmanned land, air and sea systems.
by 2012.
BAE Systems Surface Ships' yards have also delivered the Nakhoda Ragam class Corvette to the Royal Brunei Navy
, the Qahir class Corvette to the Royal Navy of Oman
and the Lekiu class frigate for the Royal Malaysian Navy
in the recent past.
Design work is currently underway on the Type 26 frigate project for the Royal Navy, as part of the wider Global Combat Ship
programme, which will eventually replace the Type 23
frigates currently in service.
OPVs for the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
. A technology transfer
agreement with Bangkok Dock to build a similar 90m OPV for the Royal Thai Navy
was agreed in June 2009.
BAE Systems Surface Ships also has a technology transfer agreement in place with Elefsis Shipyards
for the construction of the Roussen class
Fast Attack Craft
for the Hellenic Navy
, which are based on the Barzan (Vita) class FACs currently in service with the Qatar Armed Forces; itself based upon Vosper Thornycroft's 56m patrol craft built for the Royal Navy of Oman
and the Kenya Navy
.
VT Shipbuilding was previously responsible for the construction of the River class patrol vessel
for the Royal Navy, with through-life maintenance the ongoing responsibility of BAE Systems Surface Ships; the result of an innovative contractual arrangment in which the company continues to own the four vessels of the class and leases them to the UK Ministry of Defence
.
tankers built for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
. BAE is partnered with BMT Defence Services
and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
for the project.
BAE Systems has also previously been involved in the Wave class tanker
s for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
s (The Sandown class
in service with the Royal Navy, Royal Saudi Navy
and Estonian Navy
), prime contracting
on Hydrographic survey
vessels such as the Echo class, Scott class
and the design and production of the smaller Halmatic range of boats such as Landing Craft
, Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
s and Rigid buoyant boat
s. These products
include the Lifespan Patrol Vessel
, Rigid Raider
, Mk 6 Assault Boat
and Combat Support Boat
types currently in service with the British Armed Forces
and other Navies, such as the Jordanian Royal Naval Force
and the Republic of Singapore Navy
.
and Logistics
support. The BAE subsidiary BAE Systems Surface Ships Support
provides through life maintenance, ship repair and drydock refit services for naval and merchant vessels.
Past projects have included the reactivation of the Upholder class
, now reactivated as the Victoria Class submarines for the Canadian Forces Maritime Command
. It has also refitted two ex-Royal Navy Type 22
(Batch 2) frigates for the Romanian Naval Forces
and a similar programme for the Chilean Navy
involving the refurbishment of three ex-Royal Navy Type 23 frigate
s.
In July 2009, BVT Surface Fleet established the Gulf Logistics and Naval Support joint venture with Abu Dhabi
Shipbuilding, in order to provide in-region maritime support services for CCASG
member states.
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
company of BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, specialising in naval
Naval ship
A naval ship is a ship used for combat purposes, commonly by a navy. Naval ships are differentiated from civilian ships by construction and purpose...
surface
Surface ship
A surface ship is any type of naval ship that is confined to the surface of the sea. The term is primarily used to mean any modern vessel type that is not a submarine; although a "surface ship" may range in size from a cutter to an aircraft carrier, the weapons and tactics have some commonality,...
shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
, systems integration and through-life support
Product lifecycle management
In industry, product lifecycle management is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its conception, through design and manufacture, to service and disposal...
. It is the largest shipbuilding company in the United Kingdom, and one of the largest in Europe.
It was formed as a joint stock
Joint stock company
A joint-stock company is a type of corporation or partnership involving two or more individuals that own shares of stock in the company...
subsidiary on 1 July 2008, with the merger of BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions and VT Shipbuilding
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
, creating a new firm named BVT Surface Fleet. The new firm incorporated the BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions operated shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s at Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
and Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and the VT Shipbuilding facilities within the Naval Base
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
.
BAE Systems subsequently bought VT Group's share of the joint venture on 30 October 2009 and renamed the business BAE Systems Surface Ships.
Defence Industrial Strategy
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Defence Industrial StrategyDefence Industrial Strategy
The Defence Industrial Strategy is a United Kingdom government policy which was published as a white paper on 15 December 2005. The purpose of the DIS is stated to be to ensure that the UK armed forces are provided with the equipment they require, on time, and at best value for money. This is...
encouraged BAE and VT Group to form a naval shipbuilding joint venture with the aim of maintaining the UK's naval shipbuilding capability in the long-term. In return the MOD signed a Terms of Business Agreement which pledged that the vast majority of its future naval orders will be placed with the new company for 15 years.
Explaining the rationale for the joint venture from VT Group's perspective, its CEO Paul Lester
Paul Lester
Paul Lester is a British music journalist, author and broadcaster from Elstree, North London.- Career :He began his career as a freelance, writing for Melody Maker in the early 1990s, as well as City Limits, 20/20 , Sky Magazine and The Jewish Chronicle...
described shipbuilding as a "lumpy" business, dependent on large contracts placed at irregular intervals. Another issue was the competition between VT and BAE: "We don't want to get into a dogfight with BAE over who would be the survivor... That's what you'd be talking about at some stage."
BAE and VT concluded the merger discussions in early 2008, however creation of BVT Surface Fleet was conditional on the signing of contracts for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. Following the Ministry of Defence's announcement on 20 May 2008 that it intended to proceed with the manufacturing stage of the project, BAE announced its intention to finalise the joint venture arrangements with VT Group. This was completed on 11 June 2008 and, following VT Group shareholder approval on 30 June, the joint venture became operational on 1 July.
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
owned 55% and 45% of the company respectively, however they had equal board representation and voting rights.
In return, VT Group acquired BAE System's 50% share in their other joint venture company Flagship Training, now known as VT Flagship. BVT Surface Fleet subsumed another BAE/VT joint venture, Fleet Support Limited
Fleet Support Limited
Fleet Support Limited is a British company formed to run HMNB Portsmouth's Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation on a commercial basis. The FMRO was an agency of the Ministry of Defence responsible for repair and maintenance of Royal Navy vessels. FSL performs this task but also undertakes...
, a ship repair, maintenance and marine engineering company, based within HMNB Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
.
The new 15-year Terms of Business Agreement with the Ministry of Defence did result in some controversy however. On 30 June 2009, a BVT memo was leaked which suggested that two of the company's three shipyards could be closed following completion of Queen Elizabeth class carrier construction. In response to the leak, BVT said the memo was "worst case scenario planning" and that it continues to invest in the future of all its yards. However a MOD spokesman said "[the MOD] had to look at the consequences of reduced demand for navy shipbuilding."
Locations
BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions owned two shipyardShipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
: Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
(formerly Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd) and Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
(formerly Kvaerner Govan
Kvaerner Govan
Kvaerner Govan Ltd, located at Govan in Glasgow on the River Clyde, was a shipyard subsidiary formed in 1988 when the Norwegian group Kvaerner Industrier purchased the Govan Shipbuilders division of the nationalised British Shipbuilders corporation...
, Govan Shipbuilders
Govan Shipbuilders
Govan Shipbuilders Ltd was a British shipbuilding company based on the River Clyde at Glasgow in Scotland. It operated the former Fairfield Shipyard and took its name from the Govan area in which it was located.-History:...
and Fairfields
Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company in the Govan area on the Clyde in Glasgow. Fairfields, as it is often known, was a major warship builder, turning out many vessels for the Royal Navy and other navies through the First World War and the...
), shipyards that have a corporate heritage extending back as far as 1834. VT Shipbuilding owned shipbuilding facilities completed in 2003 within HMNB Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
and a boatyard, VT Halmatic, in Portchester
Portchester
Portchester is a locality and suburb 10km northwest of Portsmouth, England. It is part of the borough of Fareham in Hampshire. Once a small village, Portchester is now a busy part of the expanding conurbation between Portsmouth and Southampton, on the A27 main thoroughfare...
. These facilities were transferred to BVT Surface Fleet, although the VT Halmatic yard was subsequently sold to Trafalgar Wharf
Trafalgar Wharf, Portchester, Portsmouth
Trafalgar Wharf is a shipyard in Portsmouth accommodating marine engineering businesses ranging from sailmakers and boat brokers to boat builders. It was formerly the VT Halmatic shipyard, owned by VT Group and latterly by BVT Surface Fleet.-History:...
, with the Halmatic Small Boats Centre of Excellence moving to Portsmouth Naval Base. BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions also operated an additional project management centre at Filton
Filton
Filton is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol, about from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building...
, near Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, which was transferred to BVT. The BAE Systems Submarine Solutions Shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
was not included in the joint venture, although since January 2011 Submarines and Surface Ships have been operationally integrated under BAE Systems Maritime.
Exit by VT Group
At the time of BVT's creation, VT Group was expected to eventually sell its share to BAE Systems through a put optionPut option
A put or put option is a contract between two parties to exchange an asset, the underlying, at a specified price, the strike, by a predetermined date, the expiry or maturity...
, but not within three years. However on 28 January 2009 VT Group announced its intention to sell its share. VT Group's put option valued its share at a minimum of £380 million subject to conditions; however it received £346 million after various payments to BAE. From this, VT Group will pay £43 million to BVT for cost overruns on the Trinidad and Tobago and Oman contracts. Net proceeds of the sale to VT Group are thus £303 million.
Products and Services
Aircraft carriers and Amphibious assault ships
BAE Systems Surface Ships is expected to undertake 40% of the workload of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. As part of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, ThalesThales Group
The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
and Babcock
Babcock International Group
Babcock International Group plc is a British-based support services company specialising in managing complex assets and infrastructure in safety-critical and mission-critical environments. Although the company has civil contracts, its main business is with public bodies, particularly the UK...
will get a 16% share and the remaining 44% will be carried out by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions and BAE Systems Insyte. The company's shipyards have previously had experience of constructing large Amphibious assault ships, including the Ocean class LPH
HMS Ocean (L12)
HMS Ocean of the Royal Navy is an amphibious assault ship , the sole member of her class. She is designed to support amphibious landing operations and to support the staff of Commander UK Amphibious Force and Commander UK Landing Force...
, the Albion class LPD
Albion class landing platform dock
The Albion class is a class of landing platform dock, and are the newest amphibious assault vessels in the Royal Navy fleet. The class consists of two vessels, and and they were ordered in 1996 under a programme known as LPD to replace the aging Fearless class...
and the Bay class LSD(A)s.
Destroyers
BAE's three shipyards all build sections of the Type 45 destroyerType 45 destroyer
The United Kingdom's Type 45 destroyer is an air defence destroyer programme of the Royal Navy which will replace its Type 42 destroyers. The first ship in the class, HMS Daring, was launched on 1 February 2006 and commissioned on 23 July 2009. The ships are now built by BAE Systems Surface Ships...
, which was previously built as a collaboration between BAE and VT Group. As of October 2010 Daring
HMS Daring (D32)
HMS Daring is the lead ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer in the Royal Navy and the seventh ship to hold that name.She was launched in 2006 on the Clyde and conducted contractor's sea trials during 2007 and 2008...
, Dauntless
HMS Dauntless (D33)
HMS Dauntless is the second ship of the Type 45 class of air defence destroyer built for the Royal Navy...
, Diamond
HMS Diamond (D34)
HMS Diamond is the third ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in 2007, completed her contractor's sea trials in July 2010 and arrived at her base port on 22 September 2010...
, Dragon
HMS Dragon (D35)
HMS Dragon is the fourth ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyers that has been built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in November 2008 and is currently conducting Stage 1 trials...
, Defender
HMS Defender (D36)
HMS Defender is the fifth ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer built for the Royal Navy. Construction of Defender began in 2006, and she was launched in 2009...
and Duncan
HMS Duncan (D37)
HMS Duncan is the sixth ship of the Type 45 or 'D' class of air defence destroyer planned to be built for the Royal Navy. Duncan is named after Adam Duncan, Viscount Duncan of Camperdown , who defeated the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown on 11 October 1797.-Construction:Duncans...
have all been launched. The first of class entered service in May 2009.
BAE is studying the UXV Combatant
UXV Combatant
The UXV Combatant is a concept warship designed by BVT Surface Fleet , which was displayed at the Defence Security and Equipment International in 2007...
concept based on a destroyer hull for the operation of unmanned land, air and sea systems.
Frigates and Corvettes
BAE Systems Surface Ships inherited the £400 million Khareef class Corvette project from VT Group, which will see three 99m ships delivered to the Royal Navy of OmanRoyal Navy of Oman
The Royal Navy of Oman was formed in the early 1950s-Ships:* Qahir class corvettes built by Vosper Thornycroft ** Q31 Qahir Al Amwaj** Q32 Al Mua'zzar...
by 2012.
BAE Systems Surface Ships' yards have also delivered the Nakhoda Ragam class Corvette to the Royal Brunei Navy
Royal Brunei Navy
The Royal Brunei Navy is the naval defence force of Brunei Darussalam. It is a small but relatively well-equipped force whose main responsibility is to conduct search and rescue missions and to deter and defend the Brunei waters against attack mounted by sea-borne forces.The Royal Brunei Navy was...
, the Qahir class Corvette to the Royal Navy of Oman
Royal Navy of Oman
The Royal Navy of Oman was formed in the early 1950s-Ships:* Qahir class corvettes built by Vosper Thornycroft ** Q31 Qahir Al Amwaj** Q32 Al Mua'zzar...
and the Lekiu class frigate for the Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...
in the recent past.
Design work is currently underway on the Type 26 frigate project for the Royal Navy, as part of the wider Global Combat Ship
Future Surface Combatant
The Global Combat Ship is a ship design and construction programme currently underway by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence to replace the Royal Navy's 13 Type 23 frigates. The programme has been in development since 1998, initially under the designation "Future Surface Combatant "...
programme, which will eventually replace the Type 23
Type 23 frigate
The Type 23 frigate is a class of frigate built for the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. All the ships were first named after British Dukes, thus the class is also known as the Duke class. The first Type 23 was commissioned in 1989, and the sixteenth, was launched in May 2000 and commissioned in...
frigates currently in service.
Offshore Patrol Vessels and Fast Attack Craft
The company is currently building three Port of Spain classPort of Spain class corvette
The Port of Spain Class are three Offshore Patrol Vessels built by VT Shipbuilding for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard....
OPVs for the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago...
. A technology transfer
Technology transfer
Technology Transfer, also called Transfer of Technology and Technology Commercialisation, is the process of skill transferring, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions to ensure that...
agreement with Bangkok Dock to build a similar 90m OPV for the Royal Thai Navy
Royal Thai Navy
The Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...
was agreed in June 2009.
BAE Systems Surface Ships also has a technology transfer agreement in place with Elefsis Shipyards
Elefsis Shipyards
Elefsis Shipyards is a Greek shipbuilding company, also involved in other industrial constructions. Originally founded in 1962, it has constructed many types of ships, including the largest bulk carriers built in Greece as well as military ships...
for the construction of the Roussen class
Roussen Class FACM
The Roussen class is a 7-strong class of British-designed Fast Attack Craft for the Hellenic Navy. The class is named after its lead ship, which in turn is named after Lt Nikolaos Roussen, a World War II submarines officer who was killed in the suppression of the Navy mutiny in April...
Fast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft are small, fast, agile and offensive warships, that are armed with anti-ship missiles, guns or torpedoes. These are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the sea-keeping and all-round defensive capabilities to survive in blue water. The size of the vessel...
for the Hellenic Navy
Hellenic Navy
The Hellenic Navy is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence...
, which are based on the Barzan (Vita) class FACs currently in service with the Qatar Armed Forces; itself based upon Vosper Thornycroft's 56m patrol craft built for the Royal Navy of Oman
Royal Navy of Oman
The Royal Navy of Oman was formed in the early 1950s-Ships:* Qahir class corvettes built by Vosper Thornycroft ** Q31 Qahir Al Amwaj** Q32 Al Mua'zzar...
and the Kenya Navy
Kenya Navy
Kenya Navy is the naval branch of Kenyan military forces. It is headquartered in Mombasa. Kenya Navy was established on December 12, 1964, exactly one year after Kenya gained independence. It was preceded by the colonial Royal East African Navy...
.
VT Shipbuilding was previously responsible for the construction of the River class patrol vessel
River class patrol vessel
The River class is a class of three offshore patrol vessels in the Royal Navy, replacing the seven ships of the Island class. A fourth, modified vessel based on the River class has also been built for the Royal Navy, replacing the Castle class, for duties in the Falklands...
for the Royal Navy, with through-life maintenance the ongoing responsibility of BAE Systems Surface Ships; the result of an innovative contractual arrangment in which the company continues to own the four vessels of the class and leases them to the UK Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
.
Auxiliaries
BAE has bid for the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) programme, which will see up to 6 Replenishment at SeaUnderway replenishment
Underway replenishment or replenishment at sea is a method of transferring fuel, munitions, and stores from one ship to another while under way.-History:...
tankers built for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...
. BAE is partnered with BMT Defence Services
BMT Limited
Established in 1985, BMT Group Ltd is an international multi-disciplinary engineering, science and technology consultancy offering a broad range of services, particularly in the defence, energy, environment, maritime transport, marine risk and insurance, shipping and general transportation sectors...
and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd ' is the second largest shipbuilder in the world and one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea.On 21 February 2011, the A. P...
for the project.
BAE Systems has also previously been involved in the Wave class tanker
Wave Knight class tanker
The Wave class tankers are Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Fast Fleet Tankers" tasked with providing fuel, food, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world. There are two ships in the class, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler. The ships were ordered to replace the ageing Ol-class...
s for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Halmatic Small Boats
BAE Systems Surface Ships' capabilities also extend to Mine countermeasures vesselMine countermeasures vessel
A mine countermeasures vessel or MCMV is a type of naval ship designed for the location of and destruction of naval mines which combines the role of a minesweeper and minehunter in one hull. The term MCMV is also applied collectively to minehunters and minesweepers....
s (The Sandown class
Sandown class minehunter
The Sandown class is a class of minehunter originally built for the British Royal Navy). Sandown-class vessels also serve with the Royal Saudi Navy and the Estonian Navy...
in service with the Royal Navy, Royal Saudi Navy
Royal Saudi Navy
The Royal Saudi Navy is the Naval force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Royal Saudi Navy is sometimes referred to as the RSNF . The Navy has about 15,000 officers and men, including 3,000 Marines. The Naval headquarters is in Riyadh. The Western Fleet is based in the Red Sea with the main base...
and Estonian Navy
Estonian Navy
The Merevägi is the navy of Republic of Estonia and is part of the unified Kaitsevägi .In total, there are about four commissioned ships in the Estonian Navy, including three auxiliary ships; the displacement of the navy is under 10,000 tonnes making it one of the smallest navies in the world...
), prime contracting
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
on Hydrographic survey
Hydrographic survey
Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration/drilling and related disciplines. Strong emphasis is placed on soundings, shorelines, tides, currents, sea floor and submerged...
vessels such as the Echo class, Scott class
HMS Scott (H131)
HMS Scott is an ocean survey vessel of the Royal Navy, and the only vessel of her class. She is the third Royal Navy ship to carry the name, and the second to be named after the Antarctic explorer, Robert Falcon Scott. She was ordered to replace the survey ship HMS Hecla.-Construction:She was...
and the design and production of the smaller Halmatic range of boats such as Landing Craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
, Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or rigid-inflatable boat is a light-weight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy...
s and Rigid buoyant boat
Rigid buoyant boat
The rigid buoyant boat is a light-weight but high performance and high capacity boat. Based on the concept of a Rigid-hulled inflatable boat , it has a tube/sponson manufactured from a solid material such as moulded polyethylene or aluminium and therefore being much more robust than the fabrics...
s. These products
include the Lifespan Patrol Vessel
Scimitar class patrol vessel
The Scimitar class is a class of fast patrol boat in service with the British Royal Navy.The two vessels of this class are of a commercial design known as the Lifespan Patrol Vessel built by Halmatic , and formerly served in an inshore waterways anti-terrorist role in Northern Ireland...
, Rigid Raider
Rigid Raider
The Rigid Raider is a series of fast patrol/assault boat made by RTK Marine, a subsidiary of Halmatic . They are in service with many armed forces, including the Royal Marines, the SBS and Royal Engineers...
, Mk 6 Assault Boat
Mk 6 Assault Boat
The Mk 6 Assault Boat is a boat used by the Royal Engineers of the British Army. It is usually paddled for a silent or night-time approach, but can be fitted with an outboard motor...
and Combat Support Boat
Combat Support Boat
The Combat Support Boat is a boat in use with the British Army. It is a powerful, versatile craft whose major role is to support both bridging and amphibious operations. Powered by Water jet propulsion it has a high thrust at shallow draught. It is also be used as a general-purpose working boat and...
types currently in service with the British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
and other Navies, such as the Jordanian Royal Naval Force
Royal Naval Force
The Royal Naval Force is the Naval entity of the Jordanian Armed Forces. As Jordan is landlocked except at its southern extremity, with only of shoreline along the Gulf of Aqaba providing access to the Red Sea, its Naval Force comprises only 17 patrol boats, and has a total complement of about 300...
and the Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
.
Support Services
BAE Systems Surface Ships Support services include Supply chain managementSupply chain management
Supply chain management is the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers...
and Logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
support. The BAE subsidiary BAE Systems Surface Ships Support
Fleet Support Limited
Fleet Support Limited is a British company formed to run HMNB Portsmouth's Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation on a commercial basis. The FMRO was an agency of the Ministry of Defence responsible for repair and maintenance of Royal Navy vessels. FSL performs this task but also undertakes...
provides through life maintenance, ship repair and drydock refit services for naval and merchant vessels.
Past projects have included the reactivation of the Upholder class
Upholder/Victoria class submarine
The Upholder/Victoria-class submarines, also known as the Type 2400 , are diesel-electric Fleet submarines designed in the UK in the late 1970s to supplement the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine force....
, now reactivated as the Victoria Class submarines for the Canadian Forces Maritime Command
Canadian Forces Maritime Command
The Royal Canadian Navy , is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by...
. It has also refitted two ex-Royal Navy Type 22
Type 22 frigate
The Type 22 Broadsword class is a class of frigate built for the British Royal Navy. Fourteen of the class were built in total, with production divided into three batches. With the decommissioning of HMS Cornwall on 30 June 2011, the final Type 22 of the Royal Navy was retired from service...
(Batch 2) frigates for the Romanian Naval Forces
Romanian Naval Forces
The Romanian Navy is the navy branch of the Romanian Armed Forces; it operates in the Black Sea and on the Danube.-History:-Development of the Romanian Navy:The Romanian Navy has been founded in 1860 as a river flotilla on the Danube...
and a similar programme for the Chilean Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
involving the refurbishment of three ex-Royal Navy Type 23 frigate
Type 23 frigate
The Type 23 frigate is a class of frigate built for the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. All the ships were first named after British Dukes, thus the class is also known as the Duke class. The first Type 23 was commissioned in 1989, and the sixteenth, was launched in May 2000 and commissioned in...
s.
In July 2009, BVT Surface Fleet established the Gulf Logistics and Naval Support joint venture with Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
Shipbuilding, in order to provide in-region maritime support services for CCASG
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf , also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council , is a political and economic union of the Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf and constituting the Arabian Peninsula, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates...
member states.
See also
- BAE SystemsBAE SystemsBAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
- BAE Systems MarineBAE Systems MarineBAE Systems Marine Ltd. was the shipbuilding subsidiary of BAE Systems, formed in 1999, which manufactured the full range of naval ships; nuclear submarines, frigates, destroyers, amphibious ships....
(1999–2003) - BAE Systems Naval ShipsBAE Systems Naval ShipsBAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions was a wholly owned subsidiary of BAE Systems, based at two shipyards on the River Clyde in Glasgow and BAE Systems' Filton offices...
(2003–2006) - BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions (2006–2008)
- VT GroupVT GroupVT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
- BAE Systems Submarine Solutions
- BAE Systems Ship Repair (United States)
- BAE Systems Australia (Naval)