HMS ECHO - NEW BUILD 2000
Hot off the Press - 22 JUNE 2000 - New survey vessels for the Royal Navy will resurrect the names HMS ECHO and HMS ENTERPRISE
Hot off the Press - 22 JUNE 2000 - New survey vessels for the Royal Navy will resurrect the names HMS ECHO and HMS ENTERPRISE
There is to be a new HMS ECHO and HMS ENTERPRISE in the fleet AND they are to be survey vessels. It has just been announced that the Southampton based shipbuilders and repairers Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd have won a contract to build the new ships for the Royal Navy. It is said that the two vessels will be built in Devon and should enter RN service in 2002 and 2003.
These ships, at 3,500 tonnes, will be twenty times bigger than the last 'ECHO' and 2.5 times larger than the previous destroyer of the name and will be capable of carrying out hydrographic and oceanographic duties worldwide.
(Note Jan 2002:The new ship's System Manager, Tug Wilson, has asked for anyone who served in the previous ECHO to get in touch. If you would like me to pass your name / contact point on give me a shout! (That was done but thereafter neither I nor the Survey Ships Association heard anymore from the ship - Webmaster)
On 17 July 2002 Geoff Bell of Vosper Thornycroft was kind enough to forward these two pictures together with this Press release on the new ships that are now well into fitting out at Appledore having been floated out back in March 2002
These ships, at 3,500 tonnes, will be twenty times bigger than the last 'ECHO' and 2.5 times larger than the previous destroyer of the name and will be capable of carrying out hydrographic and oceanographic duties worldwide.
(Note Jan 2002:The new ship's System Manager, Tug Wilson, has asked for anyone who served in the previous ECHO to get in touch. If you would like me to pass your name / contact point on give me a shout! (That was done but thereafter neither I nor the Survey Ships Association heard anymore from the ship - Webmaster)
On 17 July 2002 Geoff Bell of Vosper Thornycroft was kind enough to forward these two pictures together with this Press release on the new ships that are now well into fitting out at Appledore having been floated out back in March 2002
The new (HMS) ECHO fitting out at Appledore in North Devon July 2002
" Survey Vessels
The two 90 metre Survey vessels of 3600 tonnes displacement are being constructed for the Royal Navy by Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. North Devon with Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. as the Prime Contractor.
The ships (HMS ECHO and ENTERPRISE) have been built in their undercover dry dock facility. The first, ECHO was "Floated out" on the 2 March was named on the 4th March 2002. ECHO will then complete her outfitting and Harbour trials leading to Sea Trials being completed by the end of August 2002
The vessels will be handed over to Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd for a 10-week period when surveying and military communications will be set to work and commissioned. VT Controls Division have supplied the Platform Management System and the 690Volt Switchboards
A comprehensive suite of hydrographic and oceanographic sensor systems is incorporated into these ships which are designed to operate and gather survey data in high sea states and in extreme latitudes when necessary. Survey motor boats, supplied by Halmatic, will be carried on board, to be used for shallow water and inshore survey work. The ships will be the first with azimuthing podded electric drives to enter RN service.
The new survey vessels will provide the Royal Navy with a major increase in world-wide survey capability. Their operational speed and range will provide the RN with a considerable capability for the early part of the 21st Century. In addition, the ships are designed to respond rapidly to short notice requirements anywhere in the world in support of the Royal Navy's Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations.
The ships are being purchased under the UK MoDs 'Smart Acquisition' arrangements. This initiative is aimed at bringing better value to the taxpayer by reducing lead-times and therefore costs. It is a partnering approach between Industry and Government. The ships will be maintained and supported by VT for a period of 25 years under a Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) contract.
G E Bell "
The two 90 metre Survey vessels of 3600 tonnes displacement are being constructed for the Royal Navy by Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. North Devon with Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. as the Prime Contractor.
The ships (HMS ECHO and ENTERPRISE) have been built in their undercover dry dock facility. The first, ECHO was "Floated out" on the 2 March was named on the 4th March 2002. ECHO will then complete her outfitting and Harbour trials leading to Sea Trials being completed by the end of August 2002
The vessels will be handed over to Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd for a 10-week period when surveying and military communications will be set to work and commissioned. VT Controls Division have supplied the Platform Management System and the 690Volt Switchboards
A comprehensive suite of hydrographic and oceanographic sensor systems is incorporated into these ships which are designed to operate and gather survey data in high sea states and in extreme latitudes when necessary. Survey motor boats, supplied by Halmatic, will be carried on board, to be used for shallow water and inshore survey work. The ships will be the first with azimuthing podded electric drives to enter RN service.
The new survey vessels will provide the Royal Navy with a major increase in world-wide survey capability. Their operational speed and range will provide the RN with a considerable capability for the early part of the 21st Century. In addition, the ships are designed to respond rapidly to short notice requirements anywhere in the world in support of the Royal Navy's Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations.
The ships are being purchased under the UK MoDs 'Smart Acquisition' arrangements. This initiative is aimed at bringing better value to the taxpayer by reducing lead-times and therefore costs. It is a partnering approach between Industry and Government. The ships will be maintained and supported by VT for a period of 25 years under a Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) contract.
G E Bell "
ECHO and ENTERPRISE 2002
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This HMS ECHO - NEW BUILD 2000 first published on line 2000 and since revised.