New seven-year contract worth £476 million will protect UK jobs,
and ensure continued support of military operations across the
globe.
UK Armed Forces will benefit from a new long-term strategic
sealift contract supporting the transport of crucial defence
equipment and supplies, as well as sustaining 150 UK jobs.
The Ministry of Defence has awarded the seven-year contract,
worth £476 million, to UK-based Foreland Shipping Limited (FSL),
ensuring the continued support of military operations and
strengthening national security, through strategic sea lift.
This comes as Defence Secretary recently announced that UK
based defence firms will be prioritised for government investment
under a new Defence Industrial
Strategy that will drive economic growth, boost British jobs,
and strengthen national security.
Under the contract, FSL will provide four roll-on roll-off
shipping vessels capable of transporting essential equipment and
supplies, including armoured vehicles, emergency medical supplies
and complex weapons, across the globe.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, MP, said:
By ensuring the efficient movement of equipment and supplies,
strategic sealift is pivotal to our ability to respond rapidly to
emerging threats, project global reach, and sustain critical
operations.
The long-term nature of this contract guarantees stable
employment for workers across the nation. This investment
reflects the government's commitment to supporting jobs, driving
economic growth, and safeguarding the UK's national security.
The vessels are operated by UK national sponsored reserves, a
unique category of reservists who are members of the civilian
workforce and join the reserves as a condition of service. This
arrangement allows them to be called up to support the Armed
Forces in times of crisis.
The contract will protect FSL's UK workforce of around 150
personnel nationally, 97% of whom are reservists. By providing
this critical capability to UK Defence, the contract will retain
skilled personnel and boost economic growth over the next seven
years, acting on the Government's Plan for Change with investment
and reform to deliver growth.
The new contract with FSL will enable the MOD to meet current
operational demands while preparing for future threats in a more
volatile world. The strategic sealift capability plays a vital
role within NATO, and without it, the UK would be unable to meet
its NATO New Force Model commitment.
The capability has been instrumental in supporting military
operations across the globe for decades. As part of the UK's
ongoing support to Ukraine, the FSL vessels have conducted over
30 sailings, moving more than 23,000 tonnes of equipment,
including significant ammunition outloads from Newport in South
Wales.
The strategic sealift capability also supported the recent UK-led
Joint Expeditionary Force Exercise Joint Protector in Latvia,
where vessels supported both deployment and recovery of
equipment, reinforcing the UK's ability to rapidly deploy forces
in the Atlantic.
Head of MOD Defence Supply Chain Operations and Movements
(DSCOM) Commodore Karen Rees said:
Maintaining our strategic sealift capability is essential to our
operational readiness and ability to respond to global
crises.
This contract reaffirms our commitment to collaborating with
industry partners to ensure we can meet both immediate needs and
long-term national security.
Chairman of Foreland Shipping Limited, Major General
(retired) Ian Copeland CB said:
Foreland Shipping Limited (FSL) has, over the last 23 years,
taken great pride in providing the Strategic Sealift Capability
for the Ministry of Defence. It has been a highly successful
project for all concerned and we are therefore delighted that we
will now continue to provide this vital capability for the next
contract period.
We look forward, with the assistance of our dedicated crew
members, to extending our close relationship with DSCOM and
fulfilling tasks around the globe.
This imperative contract supports key components of the UK
Government's Plan for Change, safeguarding national security
while raising living standards across the UK with good, skilled,
productive jobs which foster economic growth.
