UK Navy Buys Three Patrol Boats From BAE Systems

The UK Royal Navy has bought three patrol boats worth £39 million which were earlier taken on lease from BAE Systems. The HMS Tyne, Severn and Mersey each spent 300 days at the sea every year making two vessel boarding a day to combat over fishing . The MOD bought the ships in a contract of £39m and keep them in service with the Royal Navy for a decade. The lease by the BAE System was to be renewed in 2013. The three patrol were operating counter-terrorism and keeping the sea safe for shipping, enforcement of fisheries regulations, search and rescue operations as well as investigating smuggling and other illegal activity in the UK’s territorial waters. Philip Hammond Secretary of State for Defence, said, “These three ships represent an essential UK capability in protecting UK waters and safeguarding our maritime interests. Buying these vessels is a shrewd move by the MoD and is another example of the department proactively renegotiating contracts and making decisions to benefit our Armed Forces and the taxpayer. This contract not only saves money in the long term but ensures the Royal Navy is able to continue to conduct a wide range of operations to protect the UK".