Construction of RFA Resurgent begins with Royal Navy support project pushing ahead despite steel concerns

Construction of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary has started in Spain. RFA Resurgent will be the first of three vessels, with work beginning at the Navantia’s Puerto Real shipyard in Cádiz.

Modules will be manufactured before being transported to the UK for the later stages of construction. The start of the work has begun a month after the steel cutting ceremony at Navantia UK’s Appledore shipyard in Devon. Other modules will be produced at the site, with everything brought together at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

The British Defence Attaché to Spain said the programme’s commencement represented a vital milestone. As reported in the UK Defence Journal, the attaché said: “The commencement of construction at Puerto Real marks a significant milestone for the FSS programme, which is a great example of the cooperation between our two defence industries and our two countries.”

Concern was raised about the programme last month after The Guardian reported that Liberty Steel Dalzell faced an uncertain wait for raw materials due to cash shortage. Sources told the national publication that a lack of funding meant the company couldn’t buy slabs from British Steel. Sir David Murray, a Scottish metals magnate, said the government needed to step in, otherwise it would be a “terrible error of judgement”.

Join us every Friday for a briefing on the biggest stories with The Week in Defence newsletter - it’s free to sign up

Delays to the programme were expected. Minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, dismissed this in a previous statement.

He said: “The current assessment of the potential impact of the raw material shortage at Liberty Steel's Dalzell plant, on the construction of the three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, is deemed low.

“The sourcing of steel for the FSS programme is a matter for the prime contractor, Navantia UK, whose goal is to maximise UK steel content wherever it is technically and commercially feasible, while protecting the delivery schedule.”

Commanded by the RFA, the FSS ships will provide munitions, stores, and provisions to Royal Navy task groups. They will replace RFA Fort Victoria, which was launched in 1990, and bolster a fleet which has been struggling to maintain its numbers.