British shipbuilding is set for a multi-billion-pound lift, with government backing for two major maritime projects that will be delivered by UK companies.
The investment will fund three new floating docks for the Royal Navy’s submarine service at HM Naval Base Clyde, alongside a new marine research vessel. Together, the projects are intended to support skilled manufacturing work while strengthening important capabilities in Britain.
New docks for the submarine fleet
The three floating docks are being procured through the UK-only Programme Euston competition. They will provide facilities for maintaining the Royal Navy’s current and future nuclear submarine fleet.
That will allow essential inspections, upgrades and repairs to be carried out at HM Naval Base Clyde. The Government says the programme will help protect sovereign capability while creating work for shipyards, engineers and smaller firms in the wider UK supply chain.
It also expects the new infrastructure to support the submarine service for decades to come.
Research vessel will replace ageing ship
The second project is a new marine research vessel, expected to enter service in the early 2030s as the existing vessel nears the end of its operational life.
It will carry out research into UK seas and oceans. The data will help support sustainable fishing, improve understanding of fish stocks and give coastal communities greater confidence about the future of their marine industries.
The Government says both projects reflect a wider effort to use public procurement to support national security, domestic manufacturing and regional economic growth. Ministers have also said they will look to buy from British industry where UK companies have the capability to deliver.
The announcement comes as strategically important sectors, including defence, are being positioned as drivers of wider industrial growth. By commissioning major projects from UK companies, the Government aims to build resilience in domestic supply chains as well as deliver the vessels and facilities needed for the years ahead.
Why this is good news for Britain
The projects are expected to support skilled jobs on the Clyde and work for businesses across the UK supply chain. The research vessel should also provide better data for sustainable fishing and coastal communities, while the new docks will maintain a vital national capability in Britain.
