Type 23 Duke Class Frigate
The UK Secretary of State, Geoff Hoon, announced on 30 March 2001 the decision to refit five Type 23 frigates at Rosyth dockyard. The work, over four years, is likely to be worth around £75 million. Putting the five refits together in a single batch at the dockyard will also allow significant savings to be made on the cost to the taxpayer. These refits are part of the programme of work allocated to dockyard owners, Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd, when they bought the yard four years ago. However, bringing the five similar refits together in one batch will allow substantial savings to be made through better planning and shared costs. The MOD is in the final stages of negotiating this contract. BRDL can be expected to bid for further naval refitting work. In addition MOD is continuing discussions with BRDL, the other commercial dockyard owners at Devonport and Portsmouth, and the Trades Unions over wider proposals to tackle the problem of over capacity in warship maintenance and repair. These proposals include possible partnership arrangements between BRDL and Clyde Naval Base.
The propulsion plant of Type 23 is CODLAG type with each two of Spey gas turbines and electric motor powered by diesel generators.
The actual cost per annum of operation for ships such as Type 23 frigates, Type 22 frigates, SSNs, Hunt Class minehunters and Sandown Class minehunters will vary considerably dependent on the tasking/maintenance undertaken. Indicative annual costs, including manpower, fuel and stores only, would be in the region of £16 million for a Type 23 and a Type 22 frigate, £11 million for an SSN, £3 million for a Hunt Class minehunter and £2 million for a Sandown Class minehunter.
