Today Jane joined The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt who has unveiled plans for three multi-purpose ships to “fly the flag” for the UK.
These ships would serve in a number of roles including but not limited to, disaster relief, tackling illegal migration, research and ocean clean-up. The vessels would be built in British shipyards with at least 50% of their crews comprised of apprentices, allowing the ships to be used for training purposes throughout the Commonwealth.
Working with Britannia Maritime Aid and other organisations, Penny Mordaunt is seeking to finalise business plans to ensure these ships can be used as a training platform for merchant mariners.
It is expected that that the first of these three ships will be built commercially and cost £150 million.
Commenting, Penny Mordaunt said:
“The UK is a proud maritime nation, whose expertise is recognised and respected around the world.
They are not designed merely to replicate what we had in the past, but are based on a serious and detailed assessment of what the country needs in the future in a cost-effective way by working closely with the private sector.
“These ships will fly the flag for the UK and will provide important additional resources for humanitarian relief and scientific research.
“Their construction and maintenance will benefit regions across the UK and the whole maritime sector”
Commenting, Jane Stevenson MP said:
“I am totally behind Penny's plan for these three vessels which would be used for education, science and as a symbol of global Britain. It's great that these ships would be privately funded, built in the UK to secure jobs, and promote global trade over the coming decades”
