WORK on the multi-million pound refit of warship Fort Victoria has been completed at Cammell Laird.

The £49.5m, 10-month refit is the biggest ever undertaken by the Birkenhead yard since it began its through life support ‘cluster’ contract to maintain nine of the 13 ships in the Royal Fleet Auxilliary's flotilla in 2008.

Fort Victoria is at the forefront of British naval operations.

RFA Commodore Ian Schumacker, said: "The refit of RFA Fort Victoria is a great example of what can be achieved through collaborative relationships developed within the cluster contract support model.

"Cammell Laird have a proven track record in supporting RFA ships on a worldwide basis, and I am delighted that following this complex package of work the ship is now rejuvenated for future operations."

Laird's project director Spencer Atkinson said: "It has certainly been the most challenging to date and required all the lessons we have learned working with the RFA under the cluster contract.

"Completing this refit is a formidable achievement for the yard and everyone involved.

"We did undertake a lot of planning, particularly around big jobs like the removal and replacement of six diesel generators which saw the ship cut open on both sides of the hull and then once the generators were installed the shell plating was then refitted and fully welded.

"We also pre-manufactured pipe work, steel work and ordered long lead time equipment well ahead of the start of the contract in January."

The cluster contract is Laird's biggest single contract. It is reviewed every five years based on performance and value for money. The contract was extended in November 2012 for a further five years to 2018.

The nine ships entrusted to Laird are fleet tankers RFA Gold Rover, Black Rover, Wave Knight and Wave Ruler, support tanker RFA Orangeleaf, stores ships RFA Fort Austin and Fort Rosalie, fleet replenishment ship RFA Fort Victoria and forward repair ship RFA Diligence.