Harland & Wolff, a British shipyard, has been given a £55 million contract to renovate the former minesweeper HMS QUORN for the Royal Navy.
The Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) awarded the contract for the renovation and restoration of HMS QUORN on behalf of the Lithuanian government, enhancing NATO’s maritime capability in Europe.
The regeneration will support 100 employment at the south-west shipyard, furthering goals to promote British shipbuilding that are outlined in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh.
Over the course of the project’s local and national supply chain, there will be a surge in contractors, and there will be 14 significant subcontract packages in engineering, equipment, and integration, as well as other services for renovation.
Jeremy Quin, the Minister of Defence Procurement, expressed his satisfaction that a former Royal Navy mine-hunting vessel would be repaired and rebuilt under this multimillion-pound contract in a British shipyard, preserving jobs in the country and bolstering the south-west shipbuilding industry.
This mine-hunting vessel will strengthen NATO’s maritime capability across Europe, ensuring that the Alliance is prepared to respond to growing international threats. Lithuania is a crucial NATO ally and Joint Expeditionary Force partner.
HMS QUORN served in the Royal Navy for 27 years before being sold to Lithuania in April 2020.
Until 2017, the ship patrolled the oceans as a Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessel (MCMV) in the Royal Navy’s fleet.
The vessels of the Hunt Class are experts in proactive minesweeping.
They search the seafloor with high-definition sonar for mines, which are then destroyed by the ship’s mine disposal system or clearing dive teams.
Lithuania, a crucial NATO ally and member of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), will upgrade its fleet with the acquisition of the renovated minesweeper, enhancing NATO capacity throughout Europe.
Upgrades to the ship’s mission and sonar systems as well as an additional search and rescue capability are part of the work specifically designed for the Lithuanian Navy.
As part of the deal, new primary engines, generators, and propulsion equipment will also be installed in addition to renovations to the hull, ancillary systems, electrical systems, and painting.
Cdre The award of this contract furthers our good working relationship with Harland & Wolff, a UK-owned company, and Lithuania, a NATO partner, according to Richard Whalley, head of DESA.
We look forward to continuing our engagement with them in support of the British supply chain and are very happy to see HMS QUORN being renovated in Appledore Shipyard.
The ship will reportedly be transferred to the Lithuanian Navy in 2024.
After selling HMS Dulverton and HMS Cottesmore to Lithuania in 2008, DESA has now sold HMS QUORN as its third mine-hunting vessel.
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