The Royal Navy plans to modernize its auxiliary fleet used to tow nuclear submarines, including the Vanguard-class nuclear submarines, the newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported.
The overall program to modernize the auxiliary fleet includes the delivery of 24 new ships over the next decade under a contract worth 850 million pounds ($1.1 billion). The Royal Navy will receive six new tugs for the Vanguard and Astute-class nuclear submarines.
In addition, vessels transporting personnel from one warship to another, as well as ammunition barges, a pilot ship and an oil barge, are subject to replacement. It is noted that all vessels will be built by the Dutch company Damen.
The UK has a total of four Vanguard-class nuclear submarines in service - HMS Vanguard, HMS Vengeance, HMS Victorious and HMS Vigilant. These submarines, built in the 1990s, carry Trident II (D5) ballistic missiles. According to the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence and Foreign Policy, these submarines will be replaced by Dreadnought-class submarines by the early 2030s.