New contract to support patrol vessel
'HMS Clyde' in the Patagonian Canal
The Royal Navy’s patrol vessel HMS Clyde will remain in the South Atlantic to protect the Falklands Islands until 2018, following a six year contract extension with BAE Systems to deliver 24/7 support services to the ship.
The 1,847 tonne HMS Clyde is part of the Royal Navy’s Fishery Protection Squadron. The Offshore Patrol Vessel (Helicopter) was designed and built by BAE Systems and is leased and operated by the Royal Navy, while the company provides maintenance and logistical support to the vessel. The BAE Systems manager based in the Falklands works with local companies and a UK-based support team to ensure all sustainment services are delivered locally.
The move follows an initial five year agreement and demonstrates the success of the company’s partnering approach to deployed support services. Ensuring maximum value to the Ministry of Defence, HMS Clyde’s enhanced capabilities enable her to fulfil the protection role, which previously required two ships, and in 2010 the ship’s crew and BAE Systems team delivered an unprecedented 99.3% operational availability.
Mick Ord, managing director of BAE Systems’ Surface Ships division, said “We have an engineer permanently based in the Falklands to deliver all repairs and maintenance to the vessel stationed 8,000 miles from the UK. This radical approach helps us to achieve great results and is helping to shape the way we deliver support services to our customer.
“Our ability to deliver repair and maintenance services to warships wherever they are around the world provides real value to the Ministry of Defence. Minimising return trips to the UK and ensuring rapid defect rectification, helps to reduce costs and deliver maximum availability of warships to meet operational commitments.”
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