The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £476 million contract to Foreland Shipping to continue the Interim Strategic Sealift (SSL-I) service.
The agreement, running from January 2025 to December 2031, ensures the UK’s ability to deploy military equipment globally, supporting operations critical to national security and NATO commitments.
According to the MoD, the SSL-I contract is designed to “provide a capability that is optimised for strategic lift in the maritime environment.” It ensures the rapid deployment of military logistics in diverse operational settings. A key requirement is for the vessels to be globally deployable, with the MoD highlighting their ability to “deliver cargo to the right place, at the right time, without damage or degradation” and to “exploit the most expedient transit routes, including the Panama and Suez canals.”
Foreland Shipping will provide four vessels—Anvil Point, Hartland Point, Hurst Point, and Eddystone—offering over 9,600 lane metres of cargo space. These Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo) vessels will be available for tasking 355 days a year and must be operational within 72 hours of receiving instructions.
The MoD listed the vessels’ versatility as a requirement, noting they are “equipped to transport Authority Equipment, Cargo, and Goods, including Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), and Heavy Equipment Transporters (HETs).” Additionally, the ships’ “strengthened hulls and decks” and “double hull arrangements” enhance survivability and support operations in challenging conditions, including ice-class certification for Baltic missions.
The vessels have, as readers will know, been specifically tailored to meet military requirements. Unlike typical commercial RoRo ships, the MoD states these vessels “allow access to all containers at sea while fully secured to the ship” and feature “self-supporting ramps for offloading in ports with limited or damaged infrastructure.”
They are also compatible with Mexeflote systems for amphibious operations.
Foreland’s ships also incorporate advanced communication systems, including OSPREY NACIS or its successor, and the capability to integrate ballistic protection and weapon mounts. The MoD stressed that these vessels are “configured for extended range at economical speed,” enabling sustained support for British forces stationed abroad with minimal reliance on home support.
The Point-Class Vessels
The Point class is a series of roll-on/roll-off sealift ships introduced in 2002 under a Private Finance Initiative to enhance the UK’s military transport capabilities. Designed following the Strategic Defence Review, these vessels are tailored to transport large quantities of military cargo, including up to 130 armoured vehicles and 60 trucks. Built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft in Germany and Harland and Wolff in Belfast, the vessels are named after prominent British points and headlands.
The ships operate with small civilian crews trained as sponsored reserves, allowing them to be placed under military command during crises.
With a length of 193 metres and a displacement of 23,000 tonnes, the vessels boast a range of 17,000 kilometres and a top speed of 21.5 knots. Their reinforced structures allow the transport of heavy military equipment, while their self-supporting ramps enable efficient offloading in ports with limited infrastructure. Additionally, the ships’ ice-class certification makes them capable of operating in Baltic conditions, enhancing the UK’s operational flexibility.
The Point class replaced the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Sea Centurion and Sea Crusader and has been pivotal in supporting British operations since their introduction. While two ships were sold in 2013 due to budget cuts, the remaining four continue to provide critical capabilities, having supported major deployments such as the Iraq invasion in 2003.
