Fendercare signs agreement to equip the Royal Navy’s first three Type 26 Frigates.

Fendercare Marine’s Products division is to supply deck equipment for the Royal Navy’s first three City-class Type 26 frigates. 

Part of a £3.7bn total investment in the three ships by the Ministry of Defence, the recently signed supply contract will see FCM providing anchors, chain and deck equipment to the new ships, in partnership with Italian company MEP Pellegrini, which will supply the deck machinery.

Fendercare’s Senior Business Development Manager, Brett Ward said:

‘Everyone here is rightly proud to be involved in equipping the UK’s latest warships. The order builds on our long-standing association with the Royal Navy – including the recent supply of similar deck equipment for Britain’s two new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales’.

Designed by BAE systems as multi-purpose ships, capable of everything from anti-piracy operations to full warfare capability and carrier protection, as well as advanced anti-submarine defence, the Royal Navy has committed to acquiring eight Type 26 vessels – the second part of the order will be negotiated in the next few years.  Built on the Clyde, the first of the vessels, each 6,900 tonnes, 149.9m (492ft) long and 20.8m (68ft) wide, will be christened HMS Glasgow, followed by HMS Cardiff and HMS Belfast.

Intended to replace the navy’s current fleet of Type 22 and Type 23 frigates, the City-class frigates will be the future backbone of the Royal Navy and offer a new level of naval capabilities.  As well as an impressive range of modern armaments, its hanger can accommodate two Augusta-Westland Merlin helicopters.  Capable of an average speed of 26 knots, the ships have a 7,000-mile endurance before needing to refuel.  A major design export success, BAE will also be producing nine modified versions for the Royal Australian Navy and in partnership with Lockheed Martin 15 vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy, built in Canada.