Briggs Marine, a Fife-based leader in marine services, has been awarded a £182 million contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply and maintain Authority Moorings, Markers, and Targets over the next eight years.
The successful bid is the largest defence contract to be awarded to the company to date and forms part of the MoD’s ‘next generation of marine services’ programme. It will see Briggs deliver a scheduled maintenance requirement alongside an extensive replacement programme which will modernise and standardise the MoD’s heavy moorings and aids to navigation (AtoN) over the contract term. This service is vital to naval operations throughout the UK and overseas.
The contract will give the Company the ability to secure associated employment and further investment in its vessel fleet and industrial infrastructure over that time.
The maintenance tasking requires a unique combination of marine and subsea skills, which Briggs is well equipped for. The Company’s recently built ‘MV Forth Constructor’, is one of the vessels planned to be utilised in the delivery of the contract and has already proved itself to be a capable and efficient vessel for delivery of the programme. Briggs will update and modernise all aspects of the service delivery, to improve the quality of data that it is able to use collaboratively with MoD. In doing so, Briggs will improve efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance, reduce downtime and reduce hazard exposure.
Briggs has significant experience in this area. The Company has previously undertaken similar works for almost two decades, providing the maintenance element of this task as prime subcontractors to Serco under ‘FPMS’ and ‘CPMS’ programmes. In this iteration of contract, Briggs will provide design and assurance services under ‘Equipment Authority’ status and to provide all replacement material during the term.
Iain Ross, Director of Port and Marine Services commented, “Specialist marine services are an important enabler to the country’s defence capabilities and Briggs Marine is proud to support that. Our excellent track record in delivering services to the MoD’s high standards sets us in good stead. We welcome this new opportunity, and we are confident that we will continue to deliver exceptional results.”
Collieson Briggs, Managing Director at Briggs Marine added “This new contract will both safeguard existing jobs and create significant new opportunities throughout the UK. We look forward to delivering outstanding results whilst continuing to invest in the Company’s growth and capability.
As the UK’s leading provider of mooring and Aids to Navigation services, Briggs also provides demarcation and navigation buoys to a range of commercial clients including offshore wind developers to port authorities. The Company produces and maintains technologically advanced AtoN and moorings with very high degrees of assurance.