20 January 2023
RMT Press Office:
Seafarers Union RMT today welcomed the award of a £100m contract for up to three new Fleet Solid Support vessels.
Seafarers Union RMT today welcomed the award of a £100m contract for up to three new Fleet Solid Support vessels to the Team Resolute consortium and the arrival of a new subsea surveillance vessel which will be operated by RFA crew but cautioned the Government that pay, recruitment and retention problems amongst RFA’s civilian crew must be addressed as a priority.
RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch said: “We welcome the award of the contract for the new Fleet Solid Support vessels to the UK consortium, which gives RFA’s hard working Ratings the prospect of new tonnage to replace the ageing FSS vessel Fort Victoria. We hope this delivers three new hybrid powered vessels to the RFA by the end of the decade, with an appropriate increase in the recruitment and training of merchant navy Ratings and Officers well ahead of time. Similarly, the new subsea surveillance vessel will increase maritime security and support UK seafarer jobs rather than flags of convenience and the cheapest crew possible, as was the case under the previous owners.
“However, the RFA has a serious recruitment and retention problem, largely the result of the erosion of public sector pay under this Government which has seen RFA members’ pay lag behind that of their Royal Navy colleagues and of workers in the blue light services. Increasing RFA seafarers’ pay today would ensure that they have the experienced Ratings onboard to help train the crews of tomorrow to underpin our national maritime security. RMT stand ready to work with the RFA and the Government to address pay, recruitment and retention issues to restore security resilience .”
END
Notes to Editors:
FSS Contract https://www.gov.uk/government/news/100-million-boost-as-naval-shipbuilding-confirms-return-to-belfast
Subsea surveillance ship https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-uk-subsea-protection-ship-arrives-into-merseyside
The RMT organise civilian seafarers (Ratings Grades) employed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to operate their fleet of tankers, solid support and other vessels in support of the Royal Navy’s global operations.
The RFA is the largest employer of UK based civilian seafarers in the shipping industry, employing over 1,200 Ratings and Officers.
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Tagged with: Royal Fleet Auxiliary, RFA, RMT, Mick Lynch
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