A £30 MILLION deal to provide dry dock maintenance to two of the world’s most sophisticated aircraft carriers will help to secure 300 jobs in Rosyth.

As part of the 10-year agreement the general upkeep of the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales warships will be done at the dockyard.

It includes all routine maintenance and repairs that cannot be done when the carriers, which were assembled at Rosyth, are afloat.

Sean Donaldson, Babcock’s managing director of marine engineering and systems and the Rosyth site, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to provide dry dockings for the aircraft carriers over the next decade.

"The investments in our Rosyth infrastructure and facilities over the last 10 years mean we are ideally placed to deliver projects of this size and scale.

"The programme will also benefit from the extensive knowledge and expertise of Babcock’s skilled workforce which is steeped in carrier experience. It’s a really proud moment for us.”

The UK Government said the contract would help sustain 300 jobs across the Rosyth dockyard as well as the wider supply chain.

The 65,000 tonne carriers cost taxpayers £3 billion each and are used to launch the F35 Joint Strike Fighter fast jets across the globe.

Jeremy Quin, defence procurement minister, said: “The Queen Elizabeth class carriers are the flagships of our Royal Navy and it’s crucial they remain ready to protect and defend the UK and our allies.

“Both carriers had their final construction in Rosyth, and I’m pleased they will return for their dry dock maintenance, supporting vital jobs and skills in Scotland.”

Babcock said the first planned activity at the yard will take place next year with a six-week work package.

The defence, aerospace and security company added: "This is a significant milestone for big ship dockings at Rosyth, which was the integration site for the UK carrier build and assembly programme from 2008 to 2019.

"Babcock has invested more than £100m in skills, digitisation and site infrastructure over recent years at Rosyth.

"This is now one of the UK’s most modern, capable and competitive manufacturing and repair facilities for large scale marine and energy programmes, with a circa 2000-strong workforce.

"Alongside traditional maintenance practices, the ships’ docking period will further benefit from the digital transformation underway at the Rosyth site, which is already in place to support the build and assembly of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates."

Dunfermline and West Fife MP, Douglas Chapman, said: "This announcement is excellent news for Rosyth and cements the area’s reputation as a world-leader in maritime and shipbuilding. 

“This is also a contract I’ve been lobbying and campaigning for since first being elected to parliament, along with the Type 31 frigates which are already under construction. 

“It’s also great news for Babcock and its skilled local workforce, and proves that when you invest in West Fife it really does pay off in spades.

“Between this new contract, the proposed green freeport, a renewed direct ferry link to Europe and all the other exciting developments in the area, it’s now undeniable that Rosyth is fast becoming one of Scotland’s most critical sites for businesses and for economic growth – something we can all be proud of. But this is just the start.”

HMS Prince of Wales recently supported Exercise Cold Response – the largest Arctic exercise in 30 years, which saw 2,000 British personnel join 26 other nations off the shores of Norway – while her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth has been carrying out training in waters close to the UK.

Iain Stewart, UK Government Scotland minister, said: “Defence not only plays a crucial part in the security of the United Kingdom but also contributes significantly to delivering high-skilled jobs and investment in Scotland, not least through shipbuilding.”