The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded Merseyside boatbuilder Marine Specialised Technology (MST) a GBP9.9 million (USD12.6 million) contract to build two new composite-hull 19 m fast patrol boats for the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Gibraltar Squadron.
A computer-generated image of the new fast patrol boat design for the RN’s Gibraltar Squadron. (MST)
The Gibraltar Squadron operates in and around HM Naval Base Gibraltar and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, demonstrating UK sovereignty of Gibraltar and providing protection to UK, NATO, and allied ships transiting through the region. The two new fast patrol boats will replace the P2000 Archer-class craft HMS Pursuer and HMS Dasher, currently serving with the Gibraltar Squadron as interim replacements for the recently retired HMS Sabre and HMS Scimitar.
MST’s contract, extending over six years, will sustain 30 jobs and create a further 25. The construction of the two craft will take approximately 18 months, with the lead boat due for delivery in the third quarter of 2021 and the second following in early 2022. The remainder of the contract covers four years of locally delivered in-service support.
According to an infographic released by the MoD, the new MST-built fast patrol boats will be powered by three 1,000 hp-rated Volvo D13-1000 marine diesel engines driving three MJP 350X waterjet propulsors.
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