Final handover of £250m Royal Navy contract to UK Docks confirmed

Left to right, Commodore Paul Pitcher, UK Docks MD Jonathan Wilson, Graeme Little, deputy director Future Support Acquisition, Harry Wilson UK Docks founder, Commodore Steve Large and Neil Dando of the Hydrographic & Patrol Delivery Team aboard HMS Victory.

UK Docks has officially taken over the worldwide support of five Royal Navy River Class offshore patrol vessels.

The contract, worth £250m over the next eight years, will see the company provide in-service support to HMS’s Tamar, Spey, Medway, Trent and Forth.

Previously, UK Docks had operated its support in partnership with the navy but now takes over sole responsibility.

UK Docks already provides in–service support for Royal Navy boats and the navy’s ice patrol ship, HMS Protector, which has the demanding job of supporting the British Antarctic Survey.

Now, with the River Class vessels deployed continually overseas, UK Docks must access the commercial ship repair market and liaise with regional partners and allies in the South Atlantic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indo-Asia Pacific regions to ensure they can continually carry out important international duties.

UK Docks managing director Jonathan Wilson, said: “This signing marks a big moment for our company.

“The contract was awarded last May by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in the wake of us successfully maintaining HMS Protector, along with HMS Enterprise and HMS Echo, which have now been decommissioned.

“The new contract needed us to work at a global level servicing the vessels in distant bases, so a transition period was included in which UK Docks needed to show it could carry out the work required across the world.

“The signing of this updated contract means we have shown the MoD we can match the highest standards required for what is an essential job of work - keeping these ships and their crews operating continually, no matter where in the world they are.”

HMS Medway, Gibraltar 2024

Appropriately enough, the new signing was made in the Grand Cabin of Horatio Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory in Portsmouth, with Jonathan, his co-directors, Stephen Lee and brothers Gary and Chris and UK Docks founder, their father Harry Wilson, taking part.

“We take enormous pride in being a family firm,” said Jonathan, “and a big part of UK Docks’ success has been that we have that team spirit and close commitment across the entire company.”

Rear Admiral Steven McCarthy, DE&S Director Ships’ Operations, said: “The River Class offshore patrol vessels have a demanding operating cycle and are persistently forward deployed around the world. 

“From protecting British interests in missions that range from counter-narcotics and maritime security operations to humanitarian aid and disaster relief, for small ships they make a huge impact.

“This contract makes the vessels available for use by the Royal Navy for 90% of the year. It drives real value for money by accessing the commercial maritime ship repair market to deliver the maintenance the ships need to keep them seaworthy.

“I’m delighted that we’re continuing to work with UK Docks, securing jobs and supporting local supply chains and services in the North East and benefitting from their expertise in the commercial ship repair sector.”

The vital role these vessels carry out internationally was underlined earlier this month when HMS Trent was involved in a £17m cocaine interception involving two speedboats in the Caribbean.

HMS Trent has now seized drugs worth £307m since she began operating in those waters last year.

The contract, which runs until 2031, will create or safeguard well over 100 jobs involved in delivering remote support, technical, logistical and design agent services and management. Work will also be provided for more than 250 companies in their supply chain.

Jonathan Wilson added: “We see the awarding of this contract as a resounding vote of confidence in homegrown British industry, skills and capability and we look forward to putting those resources at the service of these five important vessels.”

The five River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels are 90 metres long and equipped with a 30mm cannon and flight deck capable of accommodating a Merlin helicopter. They have a range of more than 5,500 nautical miles and a top speed of more than 20 knots.

The first three - HMS Forth, HMS Medway and HMS Trent - were built by BAE Systems shipyards on the River Clyde in Glasgow - HMS Forth replaced HMS Clyde as the Falkland Islands guardship in 2019. HMS Medway was deployed as the long-term Atlantic Patrol Task (North) ship in the Caribbean in 2020 and HMS Trent was deployed to the Mediterranean in 2020.

HMS Tamar and HMS Spey entered service in 2020 and 2021 respectively and are both on long-term deployment in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.

Left to right, Commodore Paul Pitcher, UK Docks MD Jonathan Wilson, Graeme Little, deputy director Future Support Acquisition, Harry Wilson UK Docks founder, Commodore Steve Large and Neil Dando of the Hydrographic & Patrol Delivery Team aboard HMS Victory.

Rob promoted to UK Docks Yard Manager at Victoria Quay

CONGRATULATIONS to Rob Magee who has been promoted to Yard Manager at Victoria Quay at UK Docks’ Gosport facility.

It means UK Docks South now has two yard managers - Rob, and Phil Clements, who has run the neighbouring yard at Endeavour Quay for the past 15 years.

Rob has been promoted to run the newly expanded facility at Victoria Quay, with UK Docks increasing the size and scope of its operation in Portsmouth Harbour on the back of substantial investment.

A major part of Rob’s role will be looking after the two regenerated buildings within Victoria Quay - the Waterfront Boat Shed and the Tank Store - a Grade 2 listed building that now houses new offices and small boat repair services.

Rob joined UK Docks in 2016, initially as the Composite Supervisor before being promoted to Yard Supervisor, then Workshop Manager and now Yard Manager.

He is pictured here (left), being congratulated by UK Docks’ director, Charlie Barley.

Charlie said: “I’m delighted for Rob and also UK Docks because this is a great example of how we look to promote from within the company.

“It’s always good to reward talented people in an organisation and UK Docks looks to promote from within wherever possible.

“It makes sense because you have people who are experienced within the company and have learned the way UK Docks does things and what is required.

”The investment and the development have been substantial and on top of that we have doubled the size of our labour force here, which makes UK Docks the biggest employer in the harbour. 

UK Docks Gosport now has two thriving facilities located in the world-renowned Portsmouth Harbour, with quick access to the Solent. 

The company provides a comprehensive service for vessel refits, modifications, maintenance and defect repairs for military and commercial vessels.

Additionally, it undertakes mobile support visiting vessels within the area to provide maintenance or repairs. 

UK Docks staff are also trained as Commercial Coxswains which allows them to collect, trial and deliver vessels for the customer.

The company’s on-site facilities in Gosport include berthing and lifting capability for vessels up to 40 metres and weighing 180 tonnes.

UK Docks South undertake all types of GRP & Gel coat repairs, fabrication work, painting, engineering, and Shipwright work covering tasks undertaken in major refits of vessels. 

The company has fully equipped engineering and joinery workshops at both Gosport sites including five-tonne and 2.5 tonne overhead cranes within the buildings.

Grampian Derwent, Grampian Don and Ocean Endeavour benefit from drydocking’s at Tees Docks

A TRIO of vessels drydocked at UK Docks Teesside facility during what was a busy February.

The month just past saw the arrival of North star vessel’s Grampian Derwent, Grampian Don and  Gardlines Ocean Endeavour at the Teesside facility for overhaul and maintenance packages.

The Grampian Derwent was first in, arriving on the first of the month and departing the heavy lift Quay on the 11th.

The vessel is the largest of the four service operation vessels North Star is delivering to support the Dogger Bank windfarm project.

Works on it included UK Docks staff assisting Kongsberg with necessary repairs to the drop-down thruster.

Works on the standby safety vessel, Grampian Don, included the ZF Drop Down Thruster System being fully removed and replaced including Elevation/Retaining rams/Drive Motor/Hull Penetration Sealing Flange Plate, a Full Jotun Paint Programme on the vessels underwater and topsides, Main Engine works, sea valves, tail shaft inspection / stern seal replacements, Rudder removal.

There were also main switchboard tests and shaft alternator bearing change.

The Gardline Ocean Endeavour also underwent extensive works.

They included repairs to steering gear pins and rams, rudder stock removal and machining, rudder stock neck bush renewals, rudder housing machining, a full Hemple paint programme to the vessels underwater and topsides, sea valve and relief valve overhauls, steel repairs in freshwater tanks, switchboard cleaning and tightness checks, Megger testing of main generators and the fabrication and installation of an ‘A’ frame and associated winch’s.

Busy weeks with Brunvoll

UK Docks marine service engineers have been busy servicing Brunvoll AS products nationally and internationally in recent weeks.

A team of three engineers spent much of February working on the Magne Viking in Landskrona in southern Sweden, overhauling Brunvoll AS thrusters.

They worked for a fortnight on the tug/supply vessel in the Oresund Drydocks AB, overhauling four Brunvoll tunnel thrusters and one Brunvoll retractable azimuth.

All four tunnel thrusters, as well as the azimuth thruster, were removed from the tug/supply vessel to the workshop for routine maintenance and overhaul.

Meanwhile, UK Docks marine service engineers have also been working in Scotland with Brunsvoll AS Volda, supervising and assisting Dales Marine Services in Leith on the Vos Provider.

Work was carried out on the removal and overhaul of the offshore supply ship's main propeller and shaft and the successful replacement of Stern tube seals. The contract was completed within seven days and the Vos Provider is now out of Leith dry dock.

UK Docks has been a service and sales agent for Brunvoll in the UK for 27 years now.

This involves the company sending engineers to vessels in dry dock for repairs and routine maintenance when needed. 

This is a very active market for UK Docks and when the UK is quiet we are requested to support Brunvoll's head office in Norway on an as-and-when basis. 

The Swedish job on the Magne Viking was therefore not an unusual one for us, as we operate globally and were quick to send our UK engineers over.

In the UK, we are continuously overhauling Brunvoll thrusters , most recently the Putford Defender on Teesside in January.

Lewis has the Edge - UK Docks apprentice wins top award

UK DOCKS’ apprentice Lewis Wilson is one of an elite group of students to be recognised with a national Edge Award celebrating the quality of his work.

He was one of only 17 students chosen out of more than 1,000 studying at Gateshead College nationwide across all courses to receive the prized certificates.

Lewis, who turns 20 in March, has now completed his three-year course to qualify as an Engineer and Technician.

He was putting his new skills to the test within days of winning his award, flying out to the Falkland Islands to complete a week’s worth of support work on the Royal Navy ship HMS Forth on behalf of UK Docks.

Apprentices for the 2024 Edge Awards were picked from a wide range of curriculum areas including business, digital tech, catering, construction, hairdressing and automotive but Lewis was the only engineer selected.

He was nominated by educator Muhsin Jamaar who said: “Lewis exhibited remarkable technical proficiency throughout his apprenticeship.

“He mastered the foundation engineering skills expected at this level and consistently displayed an eagerness to delve into advanced concepts and applications.

“One of Lewis’s standout qualities is his ability to work seamlessly within a team.

"I have witnessed this at his workplace when he was part of a team preparing a ship for sea trial - Lewis displayed exceptional leadership potential by taking the lead to mentor his fellow apprentices.

“He has shown that he is someone with the capability to assume leadership roles in the future.

“Throughout the apprenticeship, Lewis exhibited a high level of professionalism, reliability and a strong work ethic. 

“He consistently met project deadlines, adhered to industry standards and maintained a level of professionalism that earned him the respect of both peers and supervisors.

“Where needed, Lewis attended college during his holidays to complete any work.

“In summary, Lewis has been an exceptional apprentice who has consistently demonstrated a high level of technical proficiency, teamwork and professionalism. I am confident that Lewis will continue to excel in his career and make significant contributions to the field of engineering.”

David Alexander, Principal at the College, said: “Our Edge Awards for Apprenticeships are a highlight of my year. 

“It’s good to be able to showcase the fantastic work being done by our apprentices and employers and we had a great time presenting our Edge awards and surprising the winners in their workplace.

“The standard of nominations was very high and everyone who received an award should be proud of their achievements."

Gateshead College trains more than 1,000 apprentices many of them in the North East but also throughout the UK including in London and Manchester.

UK Docks was founded by Lewis’s grandfather Harry Wilson and the young engineer’s ambition is to build a successful career in the family firm.

Pic caption: Keeping it in the family - Lewis Wilson shows his prestigious Edge Award certificate to UK Docks' director Gary Wilson.

UK Docks Teesside yard enjoys record-breaking year of service and repair

STAFF and management at UK Docks’ Teesside facility are celebrating a record-breaking year for the number of ships serviced and repaired.

More than 30 vessels have been successfully worked on in the shipyard’s two dry docks and heavy lift repair quay throughout 2023

Among them were the Royal Navy’s only icebreaker, HMS Protector, former Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tristram, (now a training vessel), as well as Transport For London’s Dame Vera Lynn and Ben Woollacott, the Trinity House Patricia, the UKD Marlin, various North Star and Putford vessels and several Svitzer Tugs.

Jonathan Wilson, MD of UK Docks, said: “We’re delighted to have had such a productive year. 

“This is exactly what we hoped for when we first re-opened the docks in 2014 after they’d been derelict for more than two decades.

“What’s pleasing is the variety of vessels we worked on over the last 12 months, as well as the number of them, and that’s testimony to the skills and versatility of the team.”

HMS Protector, an essential part of the Royal Navy’s global reach, visited Teesside twice over the course of the year - once for a comprehensive drydock package, and then again later in the year to carry out essential repairs to its main engine and drivetrain, with more than 300 individual work packages being completed on time and on budget.

Commercial ship repair was equally busy with several Teesside and London-based Svitzer tugs, Trinity House vessel Patricia and Transport for London ferries Dave Vera Lynn and Ben Woollacott, which operate on the River Thames at Woolwich, coming in for their first five-year service and docking.

The year has been completed with extensive work on UKD Marlin, Putford Phoenix and an unplanned docking of PD Ports’ Heortnesse.

Those works marked a record-breaking number of vessels handled by the busy yard in a single year.

The Tees shipyard director Stuart Syvret said:: “Our growth in 2023 underpins the commitment and ongoing investment to improve the Teesside facility.

“We have two operational drydocks supported by a heavy lift afloat repair berth, fully equipped steel and engineering workshops and two modern 30-tonne Shoreside cranes.

“We also have a highly-skilled project management team, workforce and trusted subcontract supply chain ensuring, whether works are scheduled or unscheduled, we can react and deliver complex engineering activities in both commercial and Ministry of Defence sectors.”

The yards, on Dockside Road, in Teesport Commerce Park, now perform a significant role in the Tees Valley supply chain and local economy.

• UK Docks would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers in 2023 for the work supplied to our teams. We wish them all a happy, safe and prosperous 2024.

Veterans In Crisis supported by UK Docks' Christmas food drop

CHRISTMAS is a time for giving and UK Docks staff made a special delivery just before the big day of foodstuffs and essentials to the offices of Sunderland-based charity Veterans In Crisis.

The donations included food, toiletries and Christmas treats and were a recognition of the outstanding work Veterans In Crisis does for those who have served and are struggling to adjust.

As a defence contractor employing many ex-service personnel, UK Docks recognises the great contribution our service men and women provide to the country and to their communities.

The company also appreciates the Herculean efforts of charities like Veterans In Crisis and the difference their teams make, delivering every day, to improve veterans’ lives when they are trying to get back on their feet.

Stephen Lee, UK Docks’ operations director, said: “We sincerely hope this gesture has a positive impact on our veterans and their families during the festive period.

“The efforts of Ger Fowler and his team at Veterans In Crisis is inspirational and we at UK Docks are proud to be able to support them.

“UK Docks this year has recognised the efforts of people within our local community who have themselves made personal and financial sacrifices, to support and enable Armed Forces Veterans and their families gain access to necessary support and services, when they themselves are in a time of need.”

The van full of donations was delivered by Stephen Stuart McLean, general manager of UK Docks Teesside, and John Lally, UK Docks North, technical manager.

For more information on Veterans In Crisis (VICS), go to https://www.veteransincrisis.co.uk/

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UK Docks to breathe new life into historic Rum Store thanks to Government Levelling Up Funding

A Government grant of more than £11m has been awarded to UK Docks for the renovation of the historic Rum Store building at Victoria Quay in Gosport.

The money will help bring back to life and use an iconic building which was at the heart of the Royal Navy supply chain during Victorian times when sailors were given ‘rum rations’ during their service in what was the biggest fleet in the world.

The money from the Levelling Up Fund - £11,156,400 exactly - will be used by UK Docks to breathe new life into one of the most deprived constituencies in the country.

The Fund has given just over 18m in all to Gosport Borough Council to invest in works on Gosport’s historic waterfront.

The centrepiece will be the £11m investment in the Rum Store but the remainder will be spent on creating space for skilled marine employment and reconnecting the town centre to the waterfront.

The derelict Grade II listed building will eventually deliver mixed-use space while public realm enhancements to the route between the waterfront and town centre will increase footfall between the areas and provide a new route connecting Gosport’s historic fortifications.

UK Docks managing director, Jonathan Wilson, said: “This is great news for Victoria Quay and for the people of Gosport.

“For us, it's a fantastic opportunity to work with Gosport Borough Council on the project Reconnecting Historic Gosport Waterfront.

“The Rum Store is a wonderful ex-Ministry of Defence Grade II Listed Building in Royal Clarence Yard that is steeped in history and which now has the chance to be repaired and regenerated to boost economic development in the area.

“This news has come at a critical point for the Rum Store building which couldn’t have been better timed as it will now unlock the full potential of Victoria Quay as a focal point for marine services and business.

“It will also enhance the quality of life for those living in Gosport and its surrounding areas and we can’t wait to get started.”

UK Docks has invested heavily in the deep water berthing facility since acquiring it and improvements have included a 75T amphibious boat hoist, a 50T boat transporter and a  55T mobile crane.

The 5.7-acre site, which offers marine servicing and specialist facilities also has a new, smooth transportation road surface and a refreshment shop run by T by the Sea, that offers high-quality freshly cooked food and beverages.

Jonathan said: “We’re very proud at UK Docks in terms of what we have achieved at Victoria Quay over the last few years but the Levelling Up Fund investment will be a real game changer for the area and we’re determined to play our part in creating something the whole community can be proud of.”

The news was welcomed by Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, who has been lobbying hard for investment and had pointed out to new Levelling Up Minister, Jacob Young MP that Gosport was one of only two constituencies to not receive Levelling Up funding, despite its Priority 1 status.

She said: “I am thrilled Gosport has finally received the Levelling Up Funding so desperately deserves to help reinvigorate our town, create jobs and attract visitors to our area and help realise our huge potential. 

“I was delighted to support the Council’s Reconnecting Historic Gosport Waterfront project and look forward to working with them to move this forward.”

UK Docks remembers the fallen at moving Remembrance Day ceremony in Falklands

UK Docks took part in a poignant Remembrance Day ceremony more than 8,000 miles from home when Vessel Manager Andy Smith laid a wreath on behalf of the company on a memorial in the Falkland Islands.

Andy paid tribute, on behalf of the company, to the Royal Fleet Auxilliary and also to the memory of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards who lost their lives in the 1982 war.

UK Docks maintains a permanent support presence on the island, based in Mare Harbour where our work includes maintaining HMS Forth and HMS Protector in ensuring this part of the globe is patrolled and protected.

That work continues UK Docks' historic connections, having been involved in the rebuild of RFA Sir Tristram, following her loss in the Falklands, and her recovery and routine maintenance thereafter.

The overseas support is part of a £250m contract which has created more than 100 jobs at UK Docks and sees the company operating worldwide.

We continue to service HMS Protector, the Royal Navy’s only icebreaker, at its dry docks on the River Tees but now services five more vessels - HMS Tamar, HMS Spey, HMS Medway, HMS Trent and HMS Forth - and will hold that responsibility through to 2031.

The vessels’ duties frequently take them to the South Atlantic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indo-Asian Pacific and they need to be ready for anything at a moment’s notice.

Lest We Forget.