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Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Procurement

Asked by Kim JohnsonLabourMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 2 July 2026UIN 13245

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a timeline for the (a) design, (b) tendering and (c) award of contracts for (i) dry-dock maintenance and (ii) berthing of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet from 2028.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) are an indispensable part of Defence, and I am grateful to all the seafarers in the RFA who support defence outputs.

The Ministry of Defence is developing requirements for future RFA afloat support arrangements, including dry dock maintenance beyond 2028, in accordance with standard commercial and procurement processes. Detailed timelines for design, tendering, and contract award are being determined and cannot be shared at this stage due to commercial sensitivities

RFA vessels are not allocated fixed berths, and instead undertake dry dock maintenance and routine berthing through a combination of commercial and military ports, dependent on operational requirements.

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