Faslane dry docks and research ship to be built in UK, says chancellor

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   UK Chancellor Announces £6bn Royal Navy Ship Plan

   Chancellor John Healey announced orders worth six billion pounds will be placed with a UK-based shipbuilder during his keynote speech at the Labour conference, promising a new age of industrialisation centered on defense. The plans include building three new floating submarine docks for Royal Navy nuclear submarine maintenance at Faslane in the UK, subject to a commercial competition. Additionally, a new research ship will be constructed in Britain to support marine research and environmental monitoring, boosting domestic shipbuilding and transforming ocean science.

   Why it matters

   The decision to build the floating dry docks in Britain represents a significant backing for domestic industry, although British yards have not built a floating dock in sixty years. Chancellor Healey also warned his party that Blair-era money is not available now during his address. The procurement for the Faslane docks will be competed under a UK-only tender justified on the grounds of national security.

   What is confirmed

   • Orders worth six billion pounds will be placed with a UK-based shipbuilder as part of a new age of industrialisation, according to Chancellor John Healey.
   • Three new floating dry docks for Royal Navy nuclear submarine maintenance at Faslane will be built in the UK, subject to a commercial competition.
   • British yards have not built a floating dock in sixty years.
   • A new research ship will be built in Britain to support marine research and environmental monitoring.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The work for the three new floating docks for Faslane will be competed under a UK-only tender on the grounds of national security.

   What to watch next

   • The outcome of the commercial competition for the Faslane floating dry docks.
   • Further details on the construction timeline for the new research ship.
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. Reuters — UK's Healey puts defence in focus for reindustrialisation push
   2. ft.com — Healey to promise ‘new age of industrialisation’ with £6bn Royal Navy plan
   3. The Guardian — John Healey addresses Labour conference in first speech as chancellor – UK politics live
   4. bbc.com — Faslane dry docks and research ship to be built in UK, says chancellor
   5. bbc.com — Best thing we can offer young people is a job, not benefits, says chancellor
   6. The Guardian — The Guardian view on Britain’s new chancellor: his purpose must be to protect living standards | Editorial
   7. Financial Times — Blair-era money is ‘not there now’, Healey warns Labour
   8. The Times — Shabana Mahmood could water down migration reforms
   9. www.bbc.com — Faslane dry docks and research ship to be built in UK, says chancellor
   10. www.navylookout.com — Three new floating submarine docks for the Royal Navy to be built in Britain - Navy Lookout
   11. www.global-agriculture.com — New Research Ship to be Built in Britain, Boosting British Shipbuilding and Transforming UK Ocean Science
   12. www.yahoo.com — Breaking down my $550,000 retirement savings in Bali, Indonesia
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