December 23rd, 2016
The Directors of Varivane would like to wish all of our staff, suppliers and customers a very Happy Christmas. We’d like to share a film prepared by the crew of HMS Ocean (a vessel outfitted by Varivane no less), sending Christmas cheer from their current deployment in the Gulf region. They say it so much better than we can! Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all!
READ MORENovember 17th, 2016
The first phase of the UK's Naval Support Facility in Manama, Bahrain, HMS Juffair, was officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales on 10th November 2016. The Mina Sawan support facility will enable Royal Navy vessels stationed in the Gulf to undergo maintenance and replenishment without having to return to the UK. It affirms the Royal Navy's commitment to operations throughout the Gulf region.
READ MOREOctober 21st, 2016
Two ships from the Royal Navy, Type 45 Destroyer HMS Duncan and Type 23 Frigate HMS Richmond, have been watching the movements of a group of Russian warships passing close to UK waters as they head from the Norwegian Sea towards the English Channel. The Russian "taskforce" is heading for deployment in the Mediterranean and consists of the flagship Aircraft Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, built in 1985, and its support ships. These include a rescue tug, should it break down and require assistance, as happened in rather rough seas off the coast of Spain in 2012. We trust that all on board have tak...
READ MOREApril 17th, 2016
The Royal Navy landing ship RFA Mounts Bay arrived in Gibraltar on the 11th April for pre-planned routine maintenance work. Performing this work in Gibraltar means that the ship does not have to return to the UK and can resume operations within 4 weeks. The ship was deployed in January 2016 to support the international response to the migrant crisis. The Royal Navy has deployed the ship alongside two Border Force cutters to join the NATO mission in the Aegean Sea that aims to reduce the flow of migrants from Turkey to Europe. RFA Mounts Bay, supported by a Wildcat helicopter, has the task...
READ MOREDecember 6th, 2015
A milestone has been reached in the construction of HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers, as a 30,000 tonne section of the forward half of the ship was moved and aligned to a 11,200 tonne block that forms a major part of the rear of the vessel. This follows the arrival of the rear block at Rosyth Dockyard, after a five day, 600 mile journey from BAE Systems in Glasgow. This impressive video from BAE Systems shows the difficult journey around the north coast of the UK of this large section of the carrier, from the construction site...
READ MORENovember 30th, 2015
The prime minister confirmed on the 23rd November that eight Type 26 Combat vessels are to be built by BAE Systems. He also announced that the UK is to design a new class of light frigates to operate in a more flexible role. The Type 26 is described by the Ministry of Defence as "a 21st Century warship that will replace the Type 23 frigate as the workhorse of the Fleet, undertaking the Royal Navy's three core roles - warfighting, maritime security and international engagement - on the world stage." ...
READ MOREJuly 15th, 2015
Varivane Industries have been awarded a contract to manufacture cabin and ships furniture items for the UK’s two Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, currently under construction. The first, HMS Queen Elizabeth, was named on 4 July 2014, with her ship commissioning planned for 2016, and an initial operating capability expected in 2020. The second, HMS Prince of Wales, is scheduled to be launched around 2017, followed by commissioning in 2020 and service thereafter.At a length of 280 metres and with a displacement of 65500 to 70600 tonnes, these are the largest ships ever to be co...
READ MOREMarch 24th, 2015
On March 20th, the Queen visited Devonport dockyard in Plymouth for the celebration of rededication of HMS Ocean. The helicopter carrier and amphibious assault ship has just undergone a £65 million refit, with the accommodation equipment being supplied by Varivane. The ship is now returning to operational service, and will become the Royal Navy Fleet Flagship in June 2015. HMS Ocean was launched in 1995, and Varivane were responsible for the manufacture and installation of accommodation furniture. The ship has a flexible role, with the ability to deliver Royal Marines into either co...
READ MORENovember 1st, 2014
The Royal Navy medical ship RFA Argus has left the UKR bound for Sierra Leone, carrying three Merlin helicopters and a crew of around 380, and will act as an offshore base as the troops set up Ebola treatment centres. Among the crew are doctors, nurses, surgeons and Royal Marines. Varivane Industries are proud to be a key supplier of equipment to the RFA, and we offer our best wishes to all on board. Get more information on this crucial mission here....
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