DAMEN Supplies U.K. Navy with Ship to Serve as R&D Platform

The U.K. Royal Navy’s ‘NavyX’ team­­ received a modified Damen Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 4008 vessel which will be used to develop novel technologies.

NavyX, which has been established to rapidly develop, test and trial equipment, ran an open tender process which resulted in an order being placed with Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands earlier this year for the delivery of an FCS 4008.

The XV Patrick Blackett will be used as a platform for the assessment of a wide variety of equipment. Its 140sqm of deck space provides a large, unobstructed area for UAVs, AUVs and other technology. The extensive internal area that would normally have seating for up to 100 personnel is being converted into an operations center and a meeting room. Four caterpillar engines will give it a top speed of more than 20 knots.

Other characteristics of the FCS 4008 that are important to NavyX include the stability and excellent seakeeping that comes with the Damen Axe-bow design, important when deploying equipment into the sea or air. Damen is also providing a comprehensive, three-year support package that will center on the Service Hub that Damen set up recently in Portsmouth and which has proved to be a big success. Locally recruited personnel will maintain the vessel using local content where possible and knowledge will be transferred to ensure sustainability.

The ship’s introduction into the fleet will enable NavyX to experiment without the need to place demands on Royal Navy warships and, in the future, it will take part in Royal Navy and NATO exercises as well as increase opportunities to work more closely with industry and academia.