February 2012

Korean MARS - The order for the next generation of support tankers for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are seemingly  to be built in South Korea by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering who have become the preferred bidder to build the four (4) 200m 37,000 tonne (displacement) vessels costing £452 million.   Each tanker will have three replenishment facilities (two starboard/one port) with the ability to add a fourth later at the stern.    There is also a flight deck and an maintenance hanger for a MERLIN sized helicopter, something unknown of LEAFs and ROVERs in service.  The Koreans were successful by default as although a number of British companies took part in the competition, none submitted a final bid for the "build contract".    UK firms will however benefit from associated contracts - including the provision of key systems and equipment - worth £150 million. The winning design for the ships is by the British company BMT Defence Services.

The four Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) tankers will are due to enter service in 2016 and will replace the two “ROVER” Class (BLACK ROVER and GOLD ROVER) and the larger ORANGELEAF and hopefully the fourth vessel will represent a recovery of lost capability of the BAYLEAF following the SDSR.   Of the £ 150 million said to be “won” by British companies this is made up of £90 million for actual equipment contracts (for equipment, systems, design and support services), and a further £60 million of investment in the UK to allow customising the vessels for the military service, trials and specialist engineering help.