First Steel Cut in Royal Navy's Second Clyde Built Warship

Construction of the second of three new Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels took an important step today as the steel was cut at a ceremony in Govan.

They are being buily at BAE Systems' shipyards on the Clyde as part of a £348 million contract.

The vessels, part of a programme hat has proctected more than 800 Scottish jobs, will be used by the Royal Navy to undertake tasks in support of the UK intrerests both at home and abroad.

The first will be named HMS Forth and is expected to be handed over to the Royal Navy in 2017. This second OPV will be named HMS Medway and the third HMS Trent.

Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon started the computer-guided laser to cut the first piece of the hull.

He said: "These new ships are an imporant part of the £160 billion we are invtesting over the next decade in the equipment our armed forces need.

"The contract will benefit the dedicated workers of the Clyde, their families and the local economy in Glasgow and the investment will ensure these shipyards continue to develop into world class engineering facilities at the heart of a thriving British naval shipbuilding capability."

Rear Adniral, Henry Parker, DE&D Director of Ship Acquisition, said:

"The construction of the offshore patrol vessels embodies the long-term future of the UK's naval surface ship building industry as they are the key to the continued retention by the UK of its capability to build complex surface warships such as Type 26.

"When completed, these ships will go on to perform vital roles in defending the UK's intrests in UK waters and overseas."