UK: BAE Systems to Support and Maintain Royal Navy’s OPVs

BAE Systems has today announced that it has been awarded a contract worth £22 million for the support and maintenance of the Royal Navy’s River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs)

BAE Systems has a successful track record of supporting the UK’s Ministry of Defence Portsmouth based ships over the last ten years. Following a competitive tender process run by DE&S Commercially Supported Shipping, BAE Systems was awarded the contract for the next five years to 2018.

The Contracting for Availability (CFA) service for the River Class will provide the Royal Navy with 320 operationally available days per ship per year.  This will enable the ships to remain at sea as much as possible to carry out their primary roles of fishery protection, environmental protection, search and rescue and maritime security.

The success of these arrangements will be based on a strong partnering relationship between BAE Systems, Ship’s Staff, the MOD, and A&P Group who play a key role in the maintenance of the ships. A similar CFA solution is currently used to support two Royal Navy hydrographic vessels, HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise, as well as HMS Clyde based in the Falkland Islands.

Richard Dingley, Fleet Services Director, BAE Systems Maritime Services said, “This contract award is recognition that our support of the River Class OPVs will be a value for money service.  The Royal Navy can be assured that the high ship availability we have achieved over the last ten years will continue.  I am delighted that we have won in competition to deliver this highly regarded service.”

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Press Release, September 10, 2013; Image: BAE Systems