Britain To Acquire Four MARS Tankers For £452m

The British Ministry of Defense announced today that it has ordered a new generation of 37,000-tonne tankers is to be supplied for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) to support future Royal Navy operations around the globe. The four new Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) tankers will maintain the Royal Navy's ability to refuel at sea and will provide fuel to warships and task groups. They will support deployed amphibious, land and air forces close to the shore, will be able to operate helicopters, and are planned to enter service from 2016, replacing existing Royal Fleet Auxiliary single-hulled tankers. Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) is the preferred bidder for the deal, according to Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff. "Over the next decade, the Government will be investing billions of pounds in our maritime capabilities to ensure that our Royal Navy remains a formidable fighting force. This project will inject up to £150m into UK industry, and support and maintenance will also be carried out in the UK” Luff said.