The Faslane nuclear base tugboats intended to support operations at HM Naval Base Clyde could be built in China under the new Defence Maritime Services vessel replacement programme, according to reporting from UK Defence Journal and related outlets.
Under the Defence Maritime Services Next Generation programme, Serco is replacing a wide range of Royal Navy harbour and support craft at major UK naval bases including Faslane, Devonport and Portsmouth. The contract allows Serco to select its own supply chain for vessel construction.
The programme covers 24 vessels, including harbour tugs, pilot boats, barges and crane barges, with delivery slated for 2027 and 2028. The announcement from Damen, the Dutch shipbuilder partnering with Serco, did not specify build locations for individual vessels, instead focusing on the delivery schedule and vessel mix.
Damen’s global production model includes shipyards in Asia where similar classes of smaller craft have been constructed. This has led to the possibility that some tugboats in the UK programme could be built in China, before final outfitting or systems integration in Europe.
While harbour tugs do not handle nuclear material directly, they play a key role in manoeuvring submarines and surface ships within confined waters at sensitive facilities like Faslane, home to the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.
The Ministry of Defence has said the contract permits Serco to determine the supply chain, and that the vessels will be maintained in the UK even if built abroad. UK officials have not yet confirmed specific build sites.
Union leaders and some political figures have criticised the decision not to invite UK shipyards to bid, arguing it represents a missed chance to support domestic shipbuilding capability near Faslane.
Supporters of the current approach note that global shipbuilding practices often involve distributed construction to manage costs and schedules, and that final assembly and compliance checks are typically conducted under established European oversight.
