Royal Navy gets two fast patrol boats from Marine Specialised Technology for Gibraltar Squadron.

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.
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The two new boats will replace the Gibraltar Squadron Fast Patrol Craft, HMS Pursuer and Dasher. These two Archer-class vessels very recently took over from HMS SABRE and HMS SCIMITAR, the Scimitar Class vessels that had been in service in Gibraltar for 17 years. (Picture source: Royal Navy picture)

The six-year contract will support 30 jobs and create a further 25, with the construction of the two boats beginning in July 2020 which will take approximately 18 months, with Boat 1 due to be delivered in Q3 2021/22 and Boat 2 in Q1 2022/23.

The remainder of the contract will provide an additional four years of local In-Service Support to the patrol craft.

Both boats will be used to patrol HMNB Gibraltar and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) as well as supporting British exercises and operations in the area, keeping a close watch over Gibraltar’s shores.

A computer-generated image of the new fast patrol boat design for the RN’s Gibraltar Squadron. (Picture source: MST)

The two new boats will replace the Gibraltar Squadron Fast Patrol Craft, HMS Pursuer and Dasher. These two Archer-class vessels very recently took over from HMS SABRE and HMS SCIMITAR, the Scimitar Class vessels that had been in service in Gibraltar for 17 years.

Putting technological advancement at the fore, the vessels will demonstrate UK sovereignty of Gibraltar as well as providing force protection to designated visiting UK and Allied military vessels.

The vessels are being built at MST’s boatyard on Merseyside and has created 25 new jobs as well as sustaining 30 current jobs as part of the £9.9M contract.

A computer-generated image of the new fast patrol boat design for the RN’s Gibraltar Squadron. (Picture source: MST)