Written question asked by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Monday, 21 March 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 23 March 2011. It was answered by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 24 March 2011 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

HMS Endurance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate his Department has made of the cost of base porting the future Antarctic Patrol Ship at Devonport alongside the other ships of the Hydrographic Survey Squadron;

Answer: On 22 March 2011 the Ministry of Defence signed a contract, worth £26 million, with GC Rieber Shipping to lease an ice-breaking vessel to deliver the UK's ice patrol capability for at least the next three years. This is an interim replacement for HMS Endurance while we consider how best to deliver this important capability in the long term.The interim replacement ice patrol ship will be named HMS Protector and will be base ported at Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth, reflecting the base porting arrangements that are in place for HMS Endurance. We expect to make decisions on the longer term delivery of this capability, including base porting arrangements and their costs and the future of HMS Endurance, next year.

Secondary information