Shipyard completes £44m refit of naval vessel supporting UK’s new aircraft carrier

Spencer Atkinson with RFA Fort Victoria at Cammell Laird

Supply ship Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria, one of the largest vessels operated by the UK Ministry of Defence, has put to sea following the completion of a £44m refit by Birkenhead-based shipyard Cammell Laird.

The year-long programme of work represented phase two of RFA Fort Victoria’s life extension programme to keep her in service until 2025.

Dubbed ‘Britain’s number one pirate catcher’ after playing a key role in numerous counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, the ship has rejoined the UK’s surface fleet ready to support task group operations alongside aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The latest upkeep work followed the first refit phase carried out by Cammell Laird in 2014.

It was completed under the Through-Life Support contract held by the Birkenhead shipyard since 2008.

Key projects included adapting the vessel’s cargo tanks to comply with environmental regulations, and adding the capability to re-supply Britain’s new aircraft carriers with provisions while at sea.

Cammell Laird project director, Spencer Atkinson, led both the upkeep projects for the Merseyside shipyard, the two biggest refits the RFA has ever undertaken.

He said the work represented “a monumental achievement” considering the timescale involved.

He added: “We had up to 400 Cammell Laird staff working on RFA Fort Victoria at one point, including upwards of 20 apprentices across all trades.

“Added to that, there were perhaps another 250 to 300 subcontractors.

“It wasn’t possible to complete phase one and two together as the ship would have been out of service for too long, and quite simply, she’s needed around the world.

Source:.thebusinessdesk.com