Disposal and Reserve Ships BRd 2

CHAPTER 49

DISPOSAL AND RESERVE SHIPS

(MOD Sponsor: DLogsMP Progs)

CONTENTS

Para
4901. Reserve (Ship in Extended Readiness – SER)
4902. Disposal Vessels
4903. Authority
4904. The Disposal and Reserve Ships Organisation (DRSO)
4905. Preparation and Acceptance into Reserve or Disposal
4906. Security

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CHAPTER 49

DISPOSAL AND RESERVE SHIPS

4901. Reserve (Ship in Extended Readiness – SER)

1. RN vessels (non nuclear) in Reserve (Ship in Extended Readiness – SER) are those
vessels for which there is no immediate operational requirement but which are retained
against possible future use. These vessels may be fully or partially dehumidified and their
individual systems preserved to fit the particular circumstances. Vessels can be allocated
a reduced complement to maintain the vessel in preservation and to bring it forward for
operational use as required. Alternately the ship may be passed to a custodian in an
unmanned state.

4902. Disposal Vessels

1. A MOD owned vessel (non nuclear) may be designated for disposal up to two years
before its planned Non Operational Date. The ships may be destined for further MOD use
or sale as described below:

• Harbour traiing and accommodation.

• Trials.

• High seas firings for sinking.

• Sale to a foreign government for military use. (Defence Sale).

• Sale to a UK based company for a major rebuild and possible resale as an

operational unit to another navy. (Defence Sale)

• Sales to private or commercial bodies for use in a non-military role. (Commercial

Sale).

• Sale for recycling. (Commercial Sale).

a. Defence Sales. This consists of vessels considered to be suitable for sale to other
Commonwealth or Foreign Governments for further service as operational units.
The Platform Intergrated Platform Teams (PIPT) are to liaise closely with the
Disposal Services Authority (DSA) in the period prior to transfer of Scheduling
Authority. Vessels for Defence Sales are sold complete and fully stored except for
certain shortage items and equipment and documentation not releasable on
security grounds and contained in the EXCLUSION LIST. If a vessel is not sold
before Fleet Non Operational Date (FNOD) and remains a Defence Sales
prospect it may be destored and handed over at Portsmouth Naval Base to the
custody of the Naval Base Commander Portsmouth, Disposal and Reserve Ships
Organisation (NBC(P) - DRSO) pending transfer to a customer or regeneration
contractor (a “cold” Defence Sale). If it is clear that a sale as an operational unit
or Defence Sale is no longer viable the vessel will be reallocated for Commercial
Sale.

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b. Commercial Sales. If a vessel is considered unsuitable for sale as an operational

unit, or has failed to find a buyer as a Defence Sales, it is normally allocated for
Commercial Sale by the DSA.

4903. Authority

Authorities for Disposal and Reserve vessels are as follows:

1. Platform IPT’s - Remain the Duty Holder for the entire period a ship remains MOD
property unless transferred to another competent authority (in practice, another IPT).
JSP 430 Part 5 and JSP 886 will be amended in due course and will specify the disposal
responsibilities of a Duty Holder. It should be noted that the Platform IPT bears ultimate
responsibility for disposal preparations, in particular with regard to environmental matters.

2. FLEET - The Administrative Authority for Reserve (SER) ships that are manned. For
unmanned vessels in SER the Administrative Authority passes to the NBC of the port the
vessel is lying in (normally this will be Portsmouth).

3. DSA - At FNOD DSA become the Scheduling Authority for ships transferred for sale.
They have other responsibilities with regard to equipment status and removals from ships,
these are detailed in JSP 430.

4. NBC(P)/DRSO - The MOD custodians for unmanned SER and Disposal ships at
Portsmouth from NRole (Crew Departure date) until transfer to new owner or another MOD
department for sale or futher use.

4904. The Disposal and Reserve Ships Organisation (DRSO)

1. The Disposal and Reserve Ships Organisation is situated in HM Naval Base

Portsmouth at King Stairs Building, Victory Jetty, PP21, HMNB Portsmouth, PO1 3NJ.
They produce instruction and guidance for ships entering unmanned reserve or disposal;
primarily the Disposal and Reserve Ships Manual Volume 1 (DRSM Vol 1). DRSO works
with the aforementioned authorities in order to prepare the vessels to the condition
required by Fleet/IPT’s/DSA – they are the primary source of advice to Ship’s Officers for
ships entering unmanned custody.

4905. Preparation and Acceptance into Reserve or Disposal

1. On being nominated for unmanned reserve or disposal (a “cold” defence or

commercial sale) the vessel is to be prepared in accordance with the instuctions and
guidance published by the IPT or DSA and the Disposal and Reserve Ships Organisation.
This will be adjusted to suit the circumstances of the preservation or sales package.

2. The sequence of events for unmanned SER is norminally:

a. Planning and production of any machinery and equipment preservation “Policy

Documents” (IPT).

b. Production of preservation intentions (e.g. custodian maintenance,

dehumidification, cathodic protection) and procurement of equipment. (DRSO/
IPT).

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c. De-equip. Removal of items for further use by MOD. (IPT/Contractor/Ships Staff).

d. De-store. To a level required by the IPT/FLEET. (DLOGS/Ships Staff).

e. SER custodian preps. Normally ship’s staff to conduct instructed and guided by
DRSO utilising DRSM Vol 1.

3. For disposal a similar sequence is followed with the depth of de-equip and de-store
being governed by the sales intentions. Other differences are that IPT do not produce
policy or regeneration plans and a more comprehensive declassification of document and
equipment outfits takes place. DSA take the lead in configuring the ship for sale.

4906. Security

1. RN PSyA-Build Ships and EIPT/DSA (for sales) are the security advisors for Disposal
and Reserve vessels documentation and equipment respectively.

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