Activity returns to Portsmouth shipyard

The centre will be the primary base to refit the navy’s fleet of Hunt-class mine counter-measures vessels

Activity is once again being seen at Portsmouth’s shipyard, with the opening of a new BAE Systems maintenance hub.

BAE Systems previously cut almost 1,800 jobs and ended shipbuilding at the historic site in 2014.

The Small Ships Centre of Specialisation, based at the newly named Vernon Complex within the large ship hall on site, will be the primary base to refit the navy’s fleet of eight Hunt-class mine counter-measures vessels.

Engineers will begin deep maintenance to overhaul the Royal Navy’s minehunter HMS Brocklesby, which will include replacing the engine and control systems and overhauling the generators, to extend service life for another 15 to 20 years.

In total, BAE Systems staff will spend 190,000 hours carrying out 9,000 maintenance tasks on the 600-tonne ship.

The work is part of the £600 million Maritime Services Delivery Framework contract to support half of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet on UK and global operations as well as the management of HM Naval Base Portsmouth.