November 22, 2024
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The HMS Scotia Ship’s Company was welcomed to Babcock’s Rosyth facility to visit the production line for the Royal Navy’s Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates.
The Royal Navy Reservists saw how frigates are being built. Starting from sheet steel along the panel line through to the build hall where HMS Venturer and HMS Active are being assembled.
Through this production process, sheet steel is cut into panels forming a grand flat pack kit, which are then brought together to form units, which in turn are assembled into blocks. Scotians learned how this block assembly approach allowed workers to build the ship protected from bad weather, compared to traditional shipbuilding with ships built in an open dock.
In the Venturer building – named for the first ship in the Class – the visitors saw how the blocks are finally brought together to form the ship itself. The building once again allowing all but the mast of the ship to be assembled whilst protected from Scotland’s changeable weather.
The Inspiration Class will in time be joined by variants being built by other allies, the Fregat Merah Putih (Red and White Frigate) Class in Indonesia, and the Miecznik (Swordfish) Class in Poland.
Sub-Lieutenant Callum Girdwood led the tour, explaining the UK project, and Polish project which he works on as a Project Manager.
He said: “I’ve worked for Babcock since graduating as an engineer, and have worked across submarines and ships. The transformation and excitement that the Type 31 project has brought to the facility is incredible, and it was fantastic to have the opportunity to share this with my colleagues.”
“Having joined the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) four years ago, Babcock has supported me through my naval training at every phase, giving me the chance to develop leadership skills which I have been able to bring back to my day job.”
Petty Officer Andrew Fulton (pictured top of page, right) has previously served on a variety of ships, but the chance to see a warship so early in its life was a first.
He said: “Our jobs in the RNR often take us onboard operational warships – so it is fascinating to see a ship in build, literally from the steel plate upwards. The raw materials, processes, skills and innovation were all on show during our visit, transforming these huge sheds full of ‘bits and pieces’ into Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy – a great insight from a welcoming neighbour.”
