Fleet Support Limited (FSL) has welcomed the announcement by the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) that it has been awarded the contract to refit the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke.

The 1991-built ship will undergo an eight-month programme starting in February next year to upgrade facilities and replace equipments.

The programme will provide a stable workload at FSL, which already includes four other projects on current and former Royal Navy Type 23 frigates.

FSL Managing Director Ian Booth commented: “This is great news for Portsmouth Naval Base and FSL. This will keep us busy in the yard until next Summer and we will shortly be exploring with the MOD the potential for further work packages. The award of this contract to FSL is a positive first step in the development of the Surface Ship Support Alliance between the MOD and the three UK dockyard companies (Babcock Support Services Ltd (BSSL), Devonport Management Ltd (DML) and FSL) and will help to foster collaboration in the provision of efficient, affordable and sustainable support to the Royal Navy front line capability.”

HMS Iron Duke will benefit from Portsmouth's growing expertise in working on Type 23 frigates, which has most recently seen the completion of an impressive project on HMS Richmond, the regeneration of three ex-RN Type 23s for Chile and a maintenance package on HMS Portland.

Work to be undertaken by FSL on HMS Iron Duke includes upgrades for the ship to accommodate the Merlin helicopter, fitting of a sub-surface torpedo decoy system, plus habitability improvements and preservation work.