Briggs Marine, a leading provider of marine services, has been awarded a significant contract with the UK Ministry of Defence  (MoD) to supply and maintain Authority Moorings, Markers, and Targets over the next 8 years with a forecast revenue of £182m.

Deploying and Recovery of Heavy Moorings

When a ship secures to a ‘class’ mooring buoy it is possible that over 400 tonnes of chain and anchors lie underneath. Utilising its experience whilst following industry best practice, Briggs Marine offers a bespoke maintenance programme which can include the deployment and recovery of these vast moorings.

The successful bid is the largest defence contract to be awarded to the Fife-based company to date and forms part of the MoD’s ‘next generation of marine services’ programme. It will see Briggs deliver a scheduled maintenance requirement alongside an extensive replacement programme which will modernise and standardise the MoD’s heavy moorings  and aids to navigation (AtoN) over the contract term. This service is vital to naval operations throughout the UK and overseas.

The contract will give the Company the ability to secure associated employment and further investment in its vessel fleet  and industrial infrastructure over that time.

Forth Constructor

Briggs Marine’s versatile Maintenance Support Vessel measures 40 metres in length and boasts DP2 propulsion, a heave compensated crane, detachable A-frame, 4-point mooring system and a survey office. The Forth Constructor embraces emerging technologies and offers drop-in battery capacity to allow future zero carbon operations.

The maintenance tasking requires a unique combination of marine and subsea skills, which Briggs is well equipped for. The Company’s recently built ‘MV Forth Constructor’, is one of the vessels planned to be utilised in the delivery of the contract and has already proved itself to be a capable and efficient vessel for delivery of the programme. Briggs will update and modernise all aspects of the service delivery, to improve the quality of data that it is able to use collaboratively with MoD. In doing so, Briggs will improve efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance, reduce downtime and reduce hazard exposure.

Briggs has significant experience in this area. The Company has previously undertaken similar works for almost two decades, providing the maintenance element of this task as prime subcontractors to Serco under ‘FPMS’ and ‘CPMS’ programmes. In this iteration of contract, Briggs will provide design and assurance services under ‘Equipment Authority’ status and to provide all replacement material during the term.

Chris Laslett, Commercial Executive, MoD & Iain Ross, Director of Port and Marine Services, Briggs Marine

Iain Ross, Director of Port and Marine Services  commented


“Specialist marine services are an important enabler to the country’s defence capabilities and Briggs Marine is proud to support that.”


He continued


“Our excellent track record in delivering services to the MoD’s high standards sets us in good stead. We welcome this new opportunity, and we are confident that we will continue to deliver exceptional results.”


Collieson Briggs, Managing Director  at Briggs Marine added


“This new contract will both safeguard existing jobs and create significant new opportunities throughout the UK. We look forward to delivering outstanding results whilst continuing to invest in the Company’s growth and capability.”


Moorings & Aids to Navigation

Briggs Marine provides long term Moorings and Aids to Navigation (AtoN) management and maintenance solutions for clients including the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), Port Authorities, Utility companies and offshore wind projects. Briggs Marine has its own overhaul facilities with capacity to recondition 300+ navigation buoys per year.

As the UK’s leading provider of mooring and Aids to Navigation services, Briggs also provides demarcation, and navigation buoys to a range of commercial clients including offshore wind developers to port authorities. The Company produces and maintains technologically advanced AtoN and moorings with very high degrees of assurance.

Further News & Insights at briggsmarine.com