Cammell Laird Completes Yard Period on RFA Fort Victoria

February 4, 2020 – Cammell Laird’s workforce was proud to watch Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria head back out to sea following another successful visit to Birkenhead.

The supply ship sailed from the yard’s non-tidal wet basin into the River Mersey on January 12, having undergone a significant program of work. Cammell Laird’s engineers, supported by a network of subcontractors, suppliers and hire companies, helped put the ship through its 30-year special survey. Additional maintenance projects were also carried out during the dry-docking period.

Cammell Laird provides maintenance support for a total of nine RFA vessels under two 10-year Through Life Support contracts.

RFA Fort Victoria is one of the largest vessels operated by the UK Ministry of Defence and plays a key role at the forefront of British naval operations.

In 2018, Cammell Laird completed the second stage of a two-phase life extension program that will keep her in service until 2025. Part of the work involved modifying one of the ship’s Replenishment at Sea (RAS) rigs to allow her to keep the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers supplied with solid stores – everything from food to ammunition.

RFA Fort Victoria’s center cargo tanks were also upgraded to become MARPOL compliant, ensuring she can now safely navigate environmentally protected waters in line with the latest marine regulations.