Lord Drayson: Omani decision on OPVs is good news for UK shipbuilding

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Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Procurement today welcomed the news that the VT Group have been selected as the preferred bidder to enter the next round of discussions for the supply of Ocean Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Royal Navy of Oman.

Technical and contractual negotiations for the supply of the vessels, with a contract value in excess of £400m, including initial support, will commence next month and are expected to conclude by late summer 2006.

Lord Drayson said:

"VT have proved themselves to be an innovator in the UK shipbuilding industry and their professionalism on the Type 45 Destroyer and Aircraft Carrier (CVF) project is well recognised within the MoD. The UK Government have supported VT with their proposal and this preferred bidder announcement by Oman is therefore very welcome.

"This decision is not only excellent news for them but excellent news for the UK, and once again demonstrates the high regard in which UK products, and in this case shipbuilding, are held across the world.

"The OPVs will offer Oman an enhanced capability and I am delighted that this decision will result in even closer cooperation between our two countries. We are aware that the Omani authorities have thought long and hard about their decision and it is a measure of the quality of the proposal, and the company, that it has been selected as the preferred choice.

"Britain and Oman enjoy a very close bilateral relationship, one we very much value. This decision will strengthen growing overall defence industrial co-operation, and bilateral relationships more generally."

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