Type 31 Frigates
(asked on 19th July 2018) - View Source
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether planned Royal Navy Type 31 frigates will be able to operate in the extreme climate conditions found in northern waters and the arctic region.
Answered by
Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Royal Navy's Type 31e frigates will be capable of unrestricted global deployment, experiencing a wide range of sea and climatic conditions, and will operate effectively in various regions, including northern waters and the South Atlantic all year round. However ships must comply with the International Maritime Organization Polar Code, which sets out regulations for shipping in the Polar regions, principally relating to ice navigation and ship design.