A date has not yet been set for the start of tendering for two new floating docks to maintain nuclear submarines at Faslane, the House of Commons has been told.
The new structures were announced in November, following news the previous month, revealed here, that more than 1,000 new cabins are planned at Faslane, as well as many buildings which were ‘nearing the end of their serviceable life’ having to be replaced.
John Healey MP, Labour Defence Spokesman, asked via a written question yesterday: “To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to tender for two new submarine floating docks.”
The response by James Cartlidge MP, Minister of State (Ministry of Defence), stated: “An early market engagement notice was published on 7 November 2023 for Programme EUSTON.
“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.
“Programme EUSTON is currently in its concept phase and no date has yet been set for the tender process.”
The ship lift at Faslane and explosives handling jetty at Coulport (above) were both built as floating docks to accommodate Vanguard submarines which carry Trident nuclear missiles.
Read more: The mystery of structures 22 and 23 at Faslane
They were completed in the 1990s, with an estimated total cost of £1.7bn, in a project which engineers said rivalled the Channel Tunnel for complexity.
But the replacement Dreadnought-class boats, due to enter service in the early 2030s, will be larger than the current vessels, with a length of 153.6 metres compared to 150 and weighing 17,200 tonnes rather than 15,900.
In November the MoD said there. would be a virtual briefing for industry groups on December 7, with planned construction work including floating docks, sea walls and jetties.
A Prior Information Notice published by the Ministry of Defence in November stated: “The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (‘the Authority’) has initiated the Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability (AFTDC) Programme to procure two floating docks and associated infrastructure to be located at HM Naval Base Clyde.
“As the single integrated operating base for UK Royal Navy Submarines, HM Naval Base Clyde is the home of fleet time docking capability to support submarine availability. Following completion of a period of market engagement with industry, the Authority intends to formally commence a procurement for AFTDC.”
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