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Autonomous mine-hunting systems transporter arrives in the UK
from March 2023
by Desider
A specialist ship, bought by DE&S to support the Royal Navy with a suite of cutting-edge autonomous mine-hunting systems, has arrived in Plymouth.
Having arrived at HM Naval Base Devonport, the vessel – currently named MV Island Crown – is undergoing conversion work before being renamed and handed over to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) later this year. The ship is intended to enter service in spring 2023.
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The 96.8-metre-long ship, the length of two Olympic swimming pools, has been quickly delivered due to the rapidly evolving threat posed by naval mines and the need for effective counter-measures.
When deployed, the ship will carry a range of capabilities, including the joint French and UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures system, the Combined Influence Sweep system and Medium Underwater Autonomous Vehicles. It will also include equipment deployed as part of Project Wilton, the team delivering the Navy’s unmanned mine-hunting and survey programme.
Gareth Morris, DE&S Multi Role Ocean Surveillance project manager, said: “It’s a proud moment to see Island Crown arrive safely in its destination. The success of the project is testament to the desire of all stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure key capabilities for the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary can be delivered as quickly as possible.”
Innovative systems operated by specialist teams on board will allow the Royal Navy to meet offshore operational requirements to defend the UK’s territorial waters, and in North Atlantic and European waters.
DE&S Director General Ships Vice Admiral Paul Marshall said: “Our team undertook extensive research and market analysis to identify a vessel for the Royal Navy that would meet the vital capability it needs and could be delivered at pace, whilst also provide value for money to the taxpayer. The result of that agile working is the delivery of a highly effective ship, which will be converted to purpose at HM Naval Base Devonport. Once militarised, it will play a key role in countering the evolving threats posed by mines at sea.”
Commodore Steve Prest, Director Navy Acquisition, said: “The delivery of this ship is an important step in the Navy’s transformation to conducting mine counter-measures using distributed offboard systems-of-systems. The ship will be used to extend the range of our Maritime Autonomous Systems from coastal waters to conducting offshore survey operations in defence of the UK.”
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