Babcock has performed keel laying ceremony of the third Type 31 frigate, the future His Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Formidable, at its Rosyth Dockyard on the Firth of Forth in Scotland.
The ceremony, attended by shipyard workers, their families, engineers, and invited guests, followed a long-standing naval tradition by placing a coin beneath the keel.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Joolz Hunter, a 17-year-old welding and fabrication apprentice from Rosyth and the youngest participant in the Inspiration-class programme, placed the newly-minted coin bearing Formidable’s crest on one side and the Babcock logo on the other.
Work on HMS Formidable began in October 2024 with the cutting of the first steel.
In February this year, shipbuilders lifted and turned the keel section to mark the start of construction on the engine room.
Following the keel laying, the vessel will be assembled from 170 modules to form the warship.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataWhen complete, Formidable will operate under the White Ensign and conduct general naval duties across international waters.
Babcock marine sector chief executive Nick Hine said: “This is an important week in the history of Rosyth. As the keel of HMS Formidable is laid in this vital and fast-paced UK defence programme, our advanced design and build capability will also now support the delivery of the US Virginia class submarines – a critical component of the AUKUS trilateral partnership between Australia, the US and the UK.
“Our workforce here in Rosyth is delivering some of the most advanced international defence programmes, driving economic growth and providing highly skilled jobs to our surrounding communities here in Scotland.”
Currently, only HMS Venturer, the first of five ships in the Type 31 Inspiration-class, has an assigned crew overseeing all three vessels under construction.
Venturer is now afloat at Babcock’s yard for final fitting work.
The second ship in the series, HMS Active, is scheduled to leave the assembly hall in 2026.
Preparations are also underway for work on HMS Bulldog, the fourth frigate in the class.
The Type 31 frigates will be based in Portsmouth as part of efforts to replace ageing Type 23 vessels.
Their tasks will include counter-smuggling operations, disaster relief deployment, and maritime security patrols.
DE&S Type 31 team leader Steve Ranyard said: “Today’s keel laying marks another key milestone towards the Royal Navy’s future capabilities. This demonstrates the excellent progress we’re making in delivering these versatile frigates.
“The Type 31 programme is not only strengthening our naval fleet but also driving growth and prosperity across the UK’s maritime sector.”
