Cammell Laird, a UK shipyard in Birkenhead, Merseyside, collaborates with Britannia Maritime Aid (BMA) for the construction of a new £150m disaster relief ship that will be located in the Caribbean with the role of supporting disaster relief efforts and providing specialist training.
Specifically, Tony Graham, Cammell Laird Chief Operating Officer, informed that the vessel’s design is based on a variety of Cammell Laird’s Ro-Pax platform, while developed with ship designers Leadship; The vessels was first unveiled at the Nor Shipping trade fair.
Also, Cammell Laird comments that it’s a first-of-its-kind disaster relief and training vessel that will have a strong, versatile commercial ro-pax capability.
We have also managed to incorporate and consider advanced technology concepts such as autonomous vehicles to maximise its operational capability and its future relevance
… added Mr Graham.
Mr Graham continued that the idea of a British-built ship, encourages the British public to feel a sense of ownership of a Britannia Maritime Aid vessel working on their behalf and sailing under the Red Ensign.
As presented in the image above, the project includes a training centre, a landing craft, drones, rough terrain vehicles, onboard medical facilities, briefing rooms, conference facilities, workshops and full mission bridge and engine simulators for trainees.
Also, the vessel will be able to carry up to 6,000 tonnes of vehicles and aid supplies, more than ten times the capacity of current vessels used for this purpose.
Its crew will focus on the environment and ocean advocacy – including beach and coast clean ups, plastic collection and research.
In addition, the project will provide much needed sea training berths at a time when the Government plans to double the number of Merchant Navy officer cadets under its SMarT Plus initiative, while it will also boost Britain’s disaster relief capabilities and ease the strain of aid operations on the Royal Navy while creating jobs in British shipbuilding and the Merchant Navy.
Concluding, BMA is planning to deliver the vessel by 2024; For the time being, they will charter or purchase vessels to run relief operations until the vessel is ready.
