First picture as £8million vessel is named after Fife yard where it is being built

It marks a major milestone in the delivery of the Ministry of Defence’s Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme. The purpose-built vessel will be loaded out in the coming days as it begins operations.

The Navantia UK Seahorse will play a critical role in enabling the construction of the Royal Navy’s three FSS ships, transporting ship blocks between Navantia UK’s Appledore and Belfast facilities. At 85 metres long and 25 metres wide, and weighing approximately 1400 tonnes, the vessel has been designed for long-term use across future defence programmes.

It is another positive step forward for the yard since it was bought out by Navantia following the collapse of previous owners Harland & Wolff into administration.

Generations of workers have been employed at the Methil yard under its previous incarnations. It was thrown a lifeline when it was included in the UK-Government backed deal which saw the Spanish shipbuilding subsidiary buy out the Belfast-based company. The deal saved the jobs of 350 skilled workers.

Since acquiring Methil last January, the headcount has grown from 180 to 260, and Navantia UK is on a recruitment drive to fill a further 110 roles, including the recruitment of 15 apprentices, to join the existing class of 54 apprentices at Methil.

The company has also brought in additional senior management for Methil to oversee project delivery and commercial functions – including leaders with experience in delivering complex maritime and defence infrastructure projects for the Ministry of Defence.

Donato Martínez, chief executive said: “This is a proud moment for our team in Methil and across Navantia UK. The christening of Navantia UK Seahorse is a clear demonstration of how we are delivering the Fleet Solid Support programme across the UK, investing in facilities, people and capability.

“This barge is central to our distributed build model, connecting our yards in Appledore, Belfast and Methil, and ensuring we deliver efficiently for the Royal Navy. Just as importantly, it shows how defence can act as a powerful engine for growth, creating skilled jobs and positioning yards like Methil for a long-term future at the heart of UK shipbuilding.”

The milestone was also welcomed by Richard Baker, MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife.

The Labour politician said: “Seeing the Navantia UK Seahorse christened here in Methil is a proud moment for our community and a clear sign of the yard’s revival.

“This project is creating skilled jobs, supporting apprentices, and giving local people confidence in a long-term future for shipbuilding in Fife.

"The success of Seahorse also amply illustrates how the yard and its workers have attained the readiness and capability required to secure major new projects, including defence contracts such as Programme Euston, which would create floating dry docks for Faslane. Navantia UK’s investment is already making a real difference on the ground, and it is exactly the kind of commitment we need to secure Methil’s place at the heart of the UK’s defence industrial base for years to come.”