'Specialised fleet' of Army boats to be maintained and repaired in Portsmouth as Serco awarded contract

Serco Maritime has been awarded a seven-year-deal by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). High-skilled engineers will look after the fleet of 512 marine vessels in Portsmouth and sites across the south coast of England.

Chief executive officer for Serco Group, Anthony Kirby, said: “We are proud to be supporting this specialised fleet of marine assets, which are vital for operational and strategic effectiveness and personnel deployments on coastal or near-shore environments on behalf of the British Army and the Ministry of Defence’s Boats Team.

“Military preparedness is a key priority and our success in securing this contract reflects the strength of our expertise and capabilities in defence engineering and asset management and builds on our recent strong momentum in the defence maritime sector.”

The Army’s fleet delivers troops, transport equipment and supplies on ship to shore deployments in a range of conditions. Staff at Serco will be supporting the MoD’s Boats Team with maintenance, repair, spares, trials and other associated technical services. Work is due to commence in April 2026.

More than 140 Mexeflotes, used as landing crafts, causeways or pontoons and for transporting vehicles and equipment to shore, will be maintained through the contract. A fleet of 18 Combat Support Boats, which have a major role in bridging, amphibious and diving operations and several Army Workboats, which enable fuel to be provided to a deployed force via fuel dracones, will also be included.

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The MoD awarded £283.5m worth of support service contracts for smaller Royal Navy, Army, RFA, and MoD Police boats - a total of fleet of 3,000 vessels. This also covers the P2000 Archer-class patrol vessels based in Portsmouth. Aside from Serco, financial packages were awarded to UK Docks, Golden Arrow Marine, Griffon Marine Ltd, and Babcock. More than £250m worth of funding was granted to UK businesses, three of them being classed as small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, said: “We’re backing British businesses, reopening docks and breathing new life into maritime industries that have been the backbone of our coastal towns for generations – proving once again that Defence is an engine for growth. This is defence spending that works hard for the whole country. These contracts will keep our critical boats ready and operational, while putting over 100 skilled jobs into communities - including apprenticeships for people just starting their careers.”

List of Army boats under the contract

• Mexeflotes - large logistics craft used to transport vehicles and equipment
• Combat Support Boats - powerful ships used in both bridging and amphibious operations
• Army Work Boats – enable the provision of fuel to a deployed force
• Gemini 650s - durable, rigid inflatable boats
• Hard Hull Riverine Craft – designed to perform fast, shallow-water operations.
• Army Assault Boats - lightweight vessels, used for shallow waters and covert sorties
• Avon Redcrests - rapidly deployable inflatable vessels.