Tenth MOD patrol boat under the £36 million programme becomes one of the UK’s first patrol boat certified to the new MCA Workboat Code Edition 3.
UK-based Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST), a leading manufacturer of high-speed workboats, has reached a major milestone in its £36 million contract to supply the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) with 18 high-speed police patrol boats as it prepares to deliver the 10th vessel in the series.
Now in its fifth year, the contract is being delivered on behalf of Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and will see sixteen 15-metre patrol boats supplied to the MOD Police (MDP), alongside two vessels for the Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP). The new fleet is replacing ageing patrol boats tasked with protecting HM Naval Bases across the UK and Gibraltar.
The latest vessel also marks an industry first for the programme, becoming one of the first UK workboats to be delivered fully certified under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s new Workboat Code Edition 3 (WB3), which introduces more stringent safety and operational requirements for commercial workboats.
MST is maintaining production momentum across the fleet, with the 11th vessel due for delivery shortly. Construction is currently underway on the 12th, 13th and 14th patrol boat, while hull and wheelhouse mouldings for the 15th vessel have already entered production.
The vessels are designed for high-profile armed patrolling and essential security duties, developed in partnership with BMT as the new HPB-1500 (High-Speed Patrol Boat) model. They are designed to meet modern standards, focusing on high performance, reliability, and low environmental emissions.
“Delivering the 10th vessel and certifying it to the new MCA Workboat Code 3 highlights MST’s position at the forefront of naval architecture and manufacturing excellence”, said Lee Pacey, Project Manager at MST “To be among the first to achieve this standard demonstrates our commitment to the safety, efficiency, and compliance required by the UK MOD.”
This contract not only supports the UK MOD’s capabilities in safeguarding maritime territory but also sustains skilled jobs within the UK marine sector.
