HC Deb 21 December 2000 vol 360 c254W
Mr. Duncan Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status is of the charter agreements for RFAs Sea Crusader and Sea Centurion; and if he expects to renew these agreements. [143033]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 15 December 2000]: The current contracts for Sea Crusader and Sea Centurion run out in January and April 2001 respectively.

However, in order to provide a continuing joint rapid reaction force (JRRF) deployment capability, the Ministry of Defence is seeking to charter three roll on/roll off vessels which come into service from September 2002 onwards. The MOD has received a number of tenders for the provisional service and a decision will be made in the new year on which three vessels will be taken up, once full technical and commercial evaluations have been completed.