Construction of UK’s first Type 31 frigate presses ahead

HMS Venturer’s impressive bow unit was recently installed as progress on the ship’s structure continues, according to shipbuilding major Babcock International.

According to the company’s social media post, the construction of the Royal Navy’s first Type 31 frigate HMS Venturer has moved forward as the bow was installed inside Venturer Building at Rosyth.

Leading the way, this part of the ship has complex geometry because of the curvature of the plate.

“The efficient design of the Type 31 bow plays a crucial role in optimising the ship’s fuel efficiency, speed and overall performance. With its distinct shape, it will cut through the water and reduce drag for smooth navigation,” according to Babcock.

Royal Navy has recently announced that HMS Venturer is affiliated with the Essex county. Civic leaders have agreed to be affiliated with the Type 31 frigate – currently under construction in Scotland – linking the warship with more than 1.8m people in East Anglia from Chigwell to Colchester, Braintree to Basildon.

“It is wonderful that HMS Venturer is affiliated with the County of Essex,” said Commander Chris Cozens, the frigate’s Senior Naval Officer.

“The rich naval and maritime history combined with its modern outlook is a fitting choice for a ‘Next Generation Frigate’. We both share a focus on community outreach, linking the sea to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and industry to benefit our national prosperity.”

The Type 31 frigates (Inspiration-class) will replace five general-purpose Type 23 frigates that have served the navy since the early 1990s. The Royal Navy has picked Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 proposal as the preferred design for its Type 31 frigates. HMS Venturer will be floated off in the first half of 2024.