At Appledore Shipyard, England, which built the last vessel for the Naval Service, the yard now owned by Navantia UK carried out a traditional steel cutting ceremony for the first of the FSS trio of vessels, which is to serve the UK’s Royal Navy.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP officially kicked off the start of the construction of the first of three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), which will serve the global requirements of the Royal Navy. They will supply fuel, vital supplies, munitions, and provisions, notably for the twin ‘QE’ class aircraft carriers.
The occasion marked a significant achievement for the FSS program that is driving a £100m investment across the North Devon yard and at Harland & Wolff, Belfast, which is also part of Navantia UK. It is a subsidiary of the Spanish state shipbuilder Navantia SA, which acquired H&W along with Appledore and also marine engineering sites at Arnish and Methil, both in Scotland.
The FSS programme has created 222 apprenticeships, including in Belfast, and the shipyard is committed to 500 more by 2030.
Commodore Sam Shattock, Head of RFA, revealed the name of the first FSS ship as RFA Resurgent. The ceremony was attended by the Navantia UK workforce along with apprentices and representatives from the Ministry of Defence Equipment & Support, the RFA, the Royal Navy, government, and industry. Also in attendance were UK suppliers to the FSS programme, as well as local businesses supplying the Appledore shipyard.
The North Devon shipyard, which employs 200, will construct the bow sections of the ships, which will comprise three individual blocks. Among them are 20 new apprentices who were recruited this year in partnership with Petroc College.
Last month, the FSS program achieved another critical milestone, namely, the completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR), marking the transition from design to manufacturing for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s next-generation support ships.
The FSS program is delivering economic growth across multiple sites, including Navantia UK’s Appledore and Belfast yards. Construction of the midsection of the vessels and final assembly of the ships will take place at Navantia UK’s Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.
Each ship will be 216 meters long—the length of two Premier League football pitches—and will provide munitions, spares, food, and other essential stores to naval vessels at sea. This new capability will enhance defense operations, ensuring the Royal Navy can remain at sea for prolonged periods without returning to port.
