Glasgow - Climate protection and shipbuilding

If you're going to sit together, you might as well kill two birds with one stone! The die-hard and flawless climate protector is likely to be annoyed by this announcement on the sidelines of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow at the beginning of November. at the beginning of November: Following a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Abdul Momen announced at a virtual press conference that the state on the Ganges Delta would be buying five British-built ships over the next few years in order to rejuvenate its own fleet (Forces Goal 2030). Three of these are to be built in the UK and the remaining two in Bangladesh. This news is remarkable, if only because Bangladesh has been leaning heavily towards China in terms of shipbuilding in recent years. However, there was no further information on this important "success at the climate conference" for the time being. At least the press conference and the "dual-use" meeting were designed to be somewhat "climate-friendly" - and favourable for the industrial policy climate on Johnson's Island.

Resource-saving utilisation of old ships

In addition, decommissioned Royal Navy ships have been sold to Egypt for the first time in three decades: FORT AUSTIN and FORT ROSALIE, both Royal Fleet Auxiliaries of the FORT GRANGE class, are now going to Alexandria after being decommissioned at the end of the first quarter of 2021. As both ships have a keel laying date of almost 50 years ago in the register, they will initially undergo a maintenance period. This agreement is also beneficial for Johnson in terms of economic and domestic policy, as the succession planning for the Royal Navy's supply platforms also needs to be financed.

Replacement by new construction

Both ships are to be replaced by the new Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships. Just a few months ago, four consortia were invited to enter a "competitive procurement phase", i.e. a development competition, to prepare for their construction. Team UK and Team Resolute consist mainly of British companies, while two other teams are dominated by Indian and Dutch companies, but also include British companies (Larsen&Tubro/Leidos, Damen/Serco).

Support for the British shipbuilding industry

Because the sale of the old material and the new construction project are part of a financial package worth almost 30 billion euros to support the British shipbuilding industry, the November deal for Egypt can probably be described as a Black Friday bargain. A bit old, but still afloat!