Royal Navy’s New Dive Support Fleet Complete with Final Boat Delivered
The Royal Navy has received the last of six cutting-edge dive support boats, marking a major upgrade in underwater operations.
£51 Million Contract Delivers Next-Gen Vahana Workboats
Back in 2017, the Ministry of Defence’s procurement arm, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), handed a £51 million contract to Dorset’s Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK). The goal? To roll out six brand-new 15-metre Vahana Workboats over five years, replacing ageing vessels and boosting capabilities for the Royal Navy divers.
Faster, Smarter, Tougher: Key Improvements
The new Vahana boats bring serious upgrades:
- Improved speed and operational range
- Advanced digital navigation and command systems
- Enhanced whole-body vibration compliance for crew comfort
- Better onboard facilities for extended missions
Two boats now operate at the Defence Dive School in portsmouth/" title="Portsmouth" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Portsmouth, with others deployed at Fleet Diving Units in Portsmouth, Plymouth, Scotland, and one patrolling Gibraltar waters.
Royal Navy Officials Praise New Fleet
James Melia, Project Manager for DE&S Boats Team, said:
“It’s great news to see all six dive support boats delivered and fully operational. These vessels bring a massive leap from analogue to digital capabilities, improving command, control, navigation, speed, range, and comfort for our personnel.”
Commander Sean Heaton, Commanding Officer of the diving unit, added:
“Replacing boats from the 1990s, this multi-million pound project delivers a welcome upgrade. These vessels will serve the Diving and Threat Exploitation Group UK-wide.”
Jobs Secured and Future-Proof Design
The Vahana boats form part of a larger fleet upgrade under the Vahana Workboat programme aiming to deliver 35 standardised vessels. The contract has kept 15 jobs at AEUK and supported 45 more across the supply chain.
Wesley Galliver, Head of Surface Ship Systems Division at AEUK, said:
“We’re proud to back the Royal Navy’s diving capability with our SEA Class dive boats. Their modular design cuts training and maintenance costs, streamlining operations across the fleet.”
