Ro/Ro Transports
The 1998 Strategic Defence Review stated "we have an urgent need to improve our strategic transport, to allow us to move more powerful forces quickly to an overseas theatre" and expanded on this, announcing "Strategic lift to allow a rapid response capability will be enhanced by acquiring 4 more RORO container ships (probably through a PFI deal), giving us 6 in total. This will allow us to deploy our Joint Rapid Reaction Forces, including their heavy armour and protection, at very short notice".
The six strategic lift ships, promised in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, will provide the Navy with the heavy lift capability that it has lacked for many years and also bolster the resources available to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF). They will be operated commercially and therefore fly the Red Ensign, but three would be available to the MoD at all times- one on immediate standby and two at short notice. It is thought that the full six-ship service will only be required for major operations and exercises. Therefore the service provider can make ships available for the generation of commercial revenue, at times when they are not needed by MOD.
They will be built under the Private Finance Initiative, which it is hoped will save money. The contract, worth £1 billion, will involve constructing the six vessels and maintaining and operating them for a period in the region of 20 years. Invitations to tender were issued in March 1999 to Novomar S.A., the Maersk Company, Andrew Weir Shipping limited and the Sealion Consortium (then comprising the Kvaerner Group, Innisfree and Theisen Securities) with a deadline set for July 1999 and a decision expected by the autumn - but the deadline was then extended until March 2000 to help the Sealion Consortium, which planned to use the struggling Govan yard to construct the ships. A European Commission investigated weather reopening the bidding process infringed any competition laws.
Just as there has been much media speculation that the troubled Belfast shipbuilder Harland & Wolf would be awarded the contract to build the Alternative Landing Ships Logistics (ALSL) it was hoped that the contract for these vessels will be given to the former Kvaerner Yard at Govan, Glasgow, which is threatened with closure. However rumours emerged that the contract might be awarded to a foreign shipbuilder rather than a struggling British Yard. Although the Sealion Group (a consortium which among other companies comprises of BAe Systems- owner of Barrow, Scotstoun and Govan shipyards- and Stena, the commercial ferry operator) was bidding, the Government claimed British yards have neither the capability nor experience to build such vessels. The Sealion Group proposed to use BAe's Govan yard to build the ships and Scotstoun yard to outfit them. However, there was an outcry when it was reveled that the consortium consisting of Andrew Wier Shipping Ltd, James Fraser and Son and Houlder Offshore Engineering planned to use a shipyard in Flensburg, Germany and had undercut the Sealion bid by almost £500 million. It has been said that the cabinet itself was divided over the issue with the Secretary of State for Defence (Geoff Hoon) wanting the cheapest option, the Scottish Secretary (Dr John Reid) pushing for Govan and Northern Ireland Secretary (Peter Mandleson) campaigning on behalf of Harland & Wolff.
In August 2000, Ships Monthly reported Robert Clifford, Chairman of International Catamarans Australia (INCAT) as saying that these ferries would not be suited to the Ministry of Defence's requirements- "These vessels will be totally out of date within five years and by the time the MoD take delivery they will be proven to be the wrong ships. While fairly conventional vessels might be useful as a back up, the first strike, the tip of the spear that is going into the war zone, will need to be a fast craft". INCAT have constructed a Fast Sealift Catamaran, HMAS Jervis Bay, for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
On October 26th 2000 the MoD announced that ASWR Shipping Ltd had been selected as the preferred bidder. They plan to build two ships at Harland and Wolff in Belfast and four at the Flensburg yard in Germany. It is hoped that by dividing construction between two yards the full service of six ships will be available by early 2004. AWSL will also be responsible for the provision of the crews, operation and maintenance of the ships throughout the life of the contract. They will provide British officers and crews for the ships while in MOD use. The seafarers will be eligible for call out as Sponsored Reserves for operational requirements. The news was welcomed in Northern Ireland as it was vital for the future of Harland and Wolff. The Prime Minister visited the yard on the day of the announcement and said "These ships will be a vital part of giving the British armed forces the strategic capability they need in the future." He added "This order has been given here because of the strength of the workforce. Because of their dedication and their commitment and for all the difficult times they have been through. The fact they have secured this order is an indication of our degree of confidence and faith in the future here." The Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon, commented "These two new vessels will ensure that key manufacturing skills and knowledge are kept within the workforce to allow Harland & Wolff to compete effectively for further contracts."
Above: The new Ro/Ro transports will join R.F.A's Sea Centurion (left) and Sea Crusader (right) in providing sea lift for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF)
Above: It has been suggested that a faster transport vessel would be more suited to the MoD's requirements . Pictured here is the Fast Sealift Catamaran HMAS Jervis Bay (© Royal Australian Navy)
Above: A computer graphic of the chosen ferry design.
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© Written and researched by Jeremy Olver. Last updated 29th October 2000. Disclaimer.