(October 1st 2001)
Work Begins on Largs Bay
Workers at Swan Hunter's Wallsend shipyard today began cutting steel for RFA Largs Bay.
Work on the vessel was officially started by the Chief of Defence Procurement Sir Robert Walmsey.
Although oil production and storage vessels have been constructed, Largs Bay will be the first true ship built on Tyneside since the completion of Type 23 Frigate HMS Richmond in 1994.
RFA Largs Bay is one of four Alternative Landing Ship Logistics (ALSLs) ordered for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The contract for the construction of RFA Largs Bay and her sistership, Lyme Bay, is worth £140 million to Swan Hunter and will create up to 1,500 jobs over the next four years. They will be delivered to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2004 and 2005.
The other two vessels are to be built by BAE Marine at Govan.