Daewoo To Supply MARS Tankers To UK

Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defense to build four Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) tankers for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). The tankers will replace the aging fleet of single-hulled tankers and will maintain the Royal Navy’s ability to refuel at sea and provide fuel to individual warships. Expected to enter service in 2016, the tankers will also support deployed amphibious land and air forces close to the shore. Both classes of tanker are able to operate and support medium sized helicopters. Dave Burleigh, Chief Scientist of Dstl Naval Systems Department, says, “This project is a shining example of evidence-based decision making in Government, where Dstl’s impartial and innovative analysis has influenced defence policy at the highest level, in accordance with Dstl’s purpose of maximising the impact of science and technology for the defence and security of the UK”.