The UK Royal Navy is set to take delivery of its first Tide-class tanker, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tidespring, from South Korean shipbuilding company Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).
The development follows after the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed an acceptance of contract with DSME earlier this month.
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RFA Tidespring is the first in a series of four military afloat reach and sustainability (MARS) vessels.
Around April, the 37,000dwt tanker is expected to be delivered to the UK, which will then undergo customisation and armament work.
Once the work is completed, the RFA Tidespring is expected to enter service later this year.
Since 2013, SeaQuest has been overseeing the entire construction of the vessel, from steel cutting to its completion.
SeaQuest managing director and project manager Jan Andersson said: “I am hugely proud of the work undertaken by SeaQuest's highly skilled team of marine engineers and naval architects.
“The vessel achieved outstanding results in its performance tests.”
Equipped with upgraded marine technology, the MARS vessel features a highly flexible automated propulsion system integrated with a wide range of configurations, and an integrated platform management system. It also has aviation fuel and freshwater, three abeam replenishment stations for diesel oil, a flight deck and helicopter hangar, and several independent compartments.
The MARS vessel has the capacity to accommodate 108 people.
The latest and advanced naval auxiliary will help provide support to the new aircraft carriers as well as other British and Nato naval vessels.
Image: RFA Tidespring, the first MARS vessel delivered to the UK Royal Navy. Photo: courtesy of SeaQuest.
