Cammell Laird upgrades RFA Fort Victoria
Cammell Laird has completed a year-long, £44 million refit of Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria, the company announced on 7 May.
The upgrade will enable the vessel to remain in service until 2025. The latest upkeep work was completed under a through-life support contract held by the shipyard since 2008.
Work under the programme included upgrading the ship from a single to a double-hull tanker by adapting its centre cargo tanks to comply with International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships anti-pollution regulations.
The vessel was also equipped to re-supply the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers. One of the ship’s Replenishment at Sea rigs was modified to increase its weight capacity, allowing stores to support the carriers’ 700-plus crews to be transferred at a faster rate. The upgrade has also ensured that the rig is now able to cope with the height of the carriers’ flight decks.
The ship was also given a complete bridge technical refresh. This involved the complete removal of all navigational equipment, and machinery control and surveillance outstations, including all electrical cables.
Routine upkeep and refurbishment work was also undertaken during the year, including overhauls of the main engines and generators, classification society surveys and inspections, hull surveys, special surveys, and an overhaul of ancillary and auxiliary equipment.
Cammell Laird will continue to maintain RFA Fort Victoria along with eight other ships in the RFA flotilla under two new ten-year support contracts worth £619 million which began in March 2019.
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