The Ministry of Defence has provided an update on the plans for two new floating docks to maintain submarines at Faslane in the Gareloch.
The confirmation came in the form of a response to a Written Parliamentary Question.
John Healey MP, Labour Defence Spokesman, asked: “To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to tender for two new submarine floating docks.”
James Cartlidge MP, Minister of State (Ministry of Defence), replied that an early market engagement notice was published on 7 November 2023 for Programme EUSTON.
He said: “This engagement will inform the delivery strategy required to procure the planned out of water engineering maintenance facility at His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde. Following completion of the market engagement exercise this year, the Ministry of Defence intends to initiate a procurement programme for this additional capability.
Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced plans to procure two new floating docks along with associated infrastructure for Faslane, the primary hub for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and the home of the Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines.
The AFTDC Programme, as outlined in the MoD’s Prior Information Notice (PIN) published on 7 November 2023, details a strategic initiative to enhance the docking capabilities at HM Naval Base Clyde.
The purpose of the notice is to invite industry participation in market engagement events, as part of the AFTDC Joint Project Team’s (JPT) efforts to procure two floating docks and associated infrastructure.
John Healey, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, queried about the Ministry’s plans in relation to the National Audit Office (NAO) report titled “The Equipment Plan 2022 to 2032,” asking:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the report published by the NAO entitled The Equipment Plan 2022 to 2032, HC 907, published 29 November 2022, whether his Department plans to procure a submarine floating dock.”
In response, James Cartlidge, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, highlighted the department’s proactive approach in assessing its needs, stating: “The Ministry of Defence has conducted an assessment on its docking needs. This assessment has identified that two floating docks are required to enhance the out of water maintenance capability and meet future demand for submarine maintenance at His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde.”
He added: “Market engagement has recently commenced to better understand the delivery strategy required to procure floating docks and the associated infrastructure necessary to create an additional out of water maintenance capability.”