Solid Swivel awarded DE&S contract for QEC aircraft carrier anchors
Image courtesy DE&S
Solid Swivel, the UK's last known anchor and chain manufacturer, has secured a multimillion-pound contract from the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) to manufacture and supply specialist anchors, chain cables and associated fittings.
The company will produce more than 30 anchors of various sizes and over 2,300 metres of anchor chains for Royal Navy vessels, including six of the biggest anchors the business has ever made for the Navy’s largest warships, Queen Elizabeth-class (QEC) aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales. The QEC anchors will each weigh over 12,500kg – comparable to a single-decker bus.
The MoD contracts placed at Solid Swivel support 14 jobs at the Small-Medium Enterprise (SME), including two new hires, producing anchors and chain cable for other vessels including Type 45 destroyers and small boats.
Michael John, Mechanical Systems Chief Engineer within Power, Propulsion and Auxiliaries at DE&S said: "This partnership with Solid Swivel and their fellow Midlands manufacturers brings vital anchor-making capability back to Britain. Through this partnership, we're not just procuring anchors, we're investing in the specialist expertise and regional supply chains that underpin our long-term defence capability. These industrial commitments show what can be achieved when we collaborate closely with and harness the strengths of British industry.”
The partnership is built on regional heritage and skills and will see Solid Swivel working alongside two fellow Midlands businesses – Somers Forge, which is also a family-run business and Goodwin Castings – to deliver the project. By returning anchor production to Britain, the contract strengthens supply chain resilience and invests in the specialist skills needed for a modern, self-reliant Defence sector while restoring sovereign capability.
This work demonstrates the Government's commitment to making Defence an Engine for Growth, using investment to strengthen British industry and create opportunities in communities across the country.
Forging of the QEC anchors will begin in April at Somers Forge, starting with the shank, before fluke components are produced at Goodwin Castings and final assembly completed at Solid Swivel. The entire manufacturing process will be overseen and certified by the maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register.
David Kertai, Business Development Manager for Solid Swivel said: “Solid Swivel are delighted to be the nominated supplier to the Royal Navy for anchors, chain cable and fittings. As the last manufacturer in the UK capable of making the entire anchoring package from the chain locker to the anchor we are proud of the great manufacturing heritage within the business. With 115 years of experience in forging steel products, we are able to not only produce high quality, safety critical components but manufacture bespoke and specialised items to meet the fleets' requirements.”
Plans for the retired anchors include responsibly rehoming, recycling or disposing of them as appropriate and will be managed by the MoD’s Defence Recycling and Disposals Team (DRDT). Previous anchors have been displayed outside MoD sites, military establishments and military retirement homes, while others serve as permanent maritime monuments in cities across the country.
