Posted on June 16, 2025
The Royal Navy’s next-generation warship HMS Venturer has entered the water for the first time, marking a major milestone in the UK’s sovereign shipbuilding programme and signalling progress on a £1.25 billion contract to deliver five Type 31 frigates.
The vessel was launched from Babcock’s Rosyth facility, where the company is undertaking simultaneous construction of multiple warships for the Royal Navy.
This moment, according to the company, represents not just a step forward for one ship but a demonstration of national industrial strength.
“In a complex and uncertain world, our ability to design, build and support advanced warships in the UK is more important than ever,” said Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Marine Sector.
“HMS Venturer’s first entry into the water is a clear demonstration of UK sovereign capability in action and the depth, resilience and expertise within Babcock’s Marine business. This latest milestone exhibits the excellent progress being made across our multi-build programme, which will see us deliver five complex warships for the Royal Navy within a decade.”
The Type 31 frigates are intended to serve as general-purpose warships capable of forward deployment and global presence, providing versatility across maritime security, humanitarian assistance and deterrence roles. HMS Venturer is the first of the Inspiration-class frigates and is named in honour of the WWII Royal Navy submarine responsible for the first successful submerged attack on another submarine.
“This is engineering at its best, delivered, together with our partners, with pride, purpose and precision,” added Hine. “HMS Venturer is just the beginning.”
The launch comes amid a broader drive by the Ministry of Defence to restore resilience in domestic naval shipbuilding, a sector that had previously faced decline but is now buoyed by major investment and export ambitions. The Type 31 design has also been selected by Poland and Indonesia, further reinforcing its value as a globally competitive product.
With outfitting and systems integration now underway, HMS Venturer will undergo a series of harbour and sea trials before joining the fleet. The full Type 31 programme is expected to deliver all five ships by 2030.
