Extended Readiness
In order to cut the running costs of the Royal Navy, the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review concluded that one of the Royal Navy's two landing platform docks (LPD), Albion and Bulwark, should be placed into extended readiness while the other is held at high readiness for operations. Both vessels will alternate between extended readiness and high readiness throughout their service lives.
It was confirmed that Albion would be the first of the two vessels placed at extended readiness, for a cost of £2.5 million as Bulwark had recently finished a major refit. Running costs while in extended readiness are estimated to be £300,000 per annum in order to keep the vessel available for reactivation at short notice if needed. HMS Albion will re-enter high readiness at the time HMS Bulwark is put into extended readiness in 2016.
The running costs of one of the Albion class vessels at high readiness ranged from £17.7 million - £38.6 million per annum from 2007 - 2011.
Read more about this topic: HMS Albion (L14)
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