The submarine maintenance shortage is described as a foreseeable consequence of delayed investment in two floating dry docks. Requests are traced back to around 2000, before the immediate availability crisis. A preference for British construction still requires a British yard willing to undertake the work. Naval tug orders provide a comparison: an established overseas builder can win the work when domestic yards do not bid. A British yard treating each dock as a one-off job would need a price that covers its space, time and specialist investment. An order for four, five or six docks could make that investment more attractive than an order for only two.
Notable Point · 45:52-54:27
Floating dry docks need orders that British yards can justify
Domestic floating-dock construction depends on an order large enough, and priced adequately, to justify a yard's investment.