‘Excellent Performance’ from Lyme Bay in Final Test Stages

BAE Systems, GLASGOW, UK: The fourth, and final LSD(A) in the Bay class, RFA Lyme Bay has exceeded expectations in her final stages of testing before embarking on sea trials later this month. MoD and DE&S officials stated that the ship had been presented to an extremely high standard for final inspection and “the best we have seen for a long time”. 
 
RFA Lyme Bay was launched and built at Swan Hunter on Tyneside before being brought to the Clyde for completion. The ship has today (Thursday) undergone her final inspection and is now ready to leave the Clyde on her journey to Falmouth and then on to Portland where she will be handed over to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary on 2nd August. 
 
Head of the LSD(A) project at BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions, Scott Jamieson said: “It is vitally important for us that our warships are well received by the customer and programmes meet their expectations in line with the Defence Industrial Strategy. 
 
“While we may not have started this ship in Govan, we have definitely pulled out all the stops to ensure a successful completion and I am delighted that she has been so well received. 
 
“The most important part of our job is to make sure the men and women who venture into harms way to keep us safe are armed with the best equipment possible, and from the feedback we have received so far, Lyme Bay is well on the way to achieving that.” 
 
Andy Britton, capability assurance manager from the MoD said: “Following the last stage of testing and inspection, RFA Lyme Bay has been presented to the best standard we have seen for a long time. An excellent performance and a real pleasure to see.” 
 
Lyme Bay ship manager Allan Smith said: “The Lyme Bay has been a real labour of love for the people involved in the project, and to receive this level of praise definitely makes it all worthwhile. 
 
“The next step will be taking her down the Clyde under her own steam for the first time, which will be a great day for the shipbuilding legacy of Glasgow.”  
 
BAE Systems is a global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £13.7 billion pounds sterling (US25.4 billion dollars) in 2006.