BAE Systems to Partner with BMT and DSME for MARS Fleet Tankers

BAE Systems, LONDON, UK: A consortium led by BAE Systems has today submitted its response to the Ministry of Defence’s Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire (PQQ) to design and build up to six fleet tankers for the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The company will partner with BMT Defence Services Ltd and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. (DSME) to bid for the contract for the ships, the first part of the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) programme. 
 
BAE Systems through its Surface Fleet Solutions business will act as lead contractor and programme manager, BMT will be the design partner and the ships are planned to be built by DSME in Korea. This approach combines the best global experience in both commercial and military shipbuilding. 
 
Vic Emery, managing director of BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions, said “By bringing together this unique mix of UK and Korean commercial and naval design, ship-build and project management capability, the consortium will offer the Ministry of Defence an unparalleled degree of flexibility and experience in delivering the MARS fleet tankers. 
 
“While it is intended that all vessels will be constructed in Korea, a unique feature the consortium offers, in terms of flexibility, is the ability to provide UK build options, should such an approach become necessary”. 
 
David Rainford, commercial director of BMT Defence Services, said “As a relatively small, innovative organisation, we are pleased with the smooth and positive fashion in which BAE Systems has welcomed us as their design partner. Through a commercial approach we will be able to provide a simple yet effective MARS fleet tanker”. 
 
K W Cheong, director of DSME Special Ship Management said “This is an excellent opportunity for co-operation between our two countries; the UK being the home of naval shipbuilding and Korea as the hub of commercial shipbuilding. I think the combination of BAE Systems’ extensive naval domain knowledge with our own skills and resources will produce excellent results.” 
 
The MARS programme will become part of the workload of the proposed maritime joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Group, to be called BVT Surface Fleet, upon its completion.  
 
BAE Systems is the premier 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 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006 on a pro forma basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings Inc for the whole of 2006. 
 
BMT Defence Services is the leading independent centre of excellence in naval design and through-life support in Europe, with expertise in platform design for surface warships, submarines and auxiliaries. A wide range of government and industry customers engage in the development of technically complex, highly integrated system rely on BMT Defence Services for its systems engineering and information solutions expertise. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd and is based in Bath and Weymouth in the United Kingdom. It employs over 200 naval architects, marine engineers, engineering consultants and support staff. 
 
DSME has proposed into one of the leading shipbuilding and offshore contractors. Based on advanced IT and systemized shipbuilding technologies, paired with a vast quantity of large plant and offshore structure management experience, the company can provide an extensive range of highly specialized vessels and offshore structures for use in the shipping, naval and energy industries. In 2006, DSME achieved US$ 5.4 billion in sales and exceeded US$ 20billion of new orders in 2007.