Sea-class workboat

SMB-03 (Sea class 15 m with survey module)
Class overview
NameSea class
OperatorsUnited Kingdom Royal Navy
Built2017–2024
In service2018–present
Completed35 + 7 (Arcims-class) minehunting variants
Active35 + 7
General characteristics
TypeWorkboat/training/diver support/survey/minehunting vessels
Displacement15 to 23 t (15 to 23 long tons) (11-15 m Workboat variants); 37 t (36 long tons) (HMS Magpie)
Length
  • 11 m (36 ft 1 in)
  • 13.8 m (45 ft 3 in)
  • 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
  • 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
PropulsionYanmar diesels; twin waterjets
Speedup to 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Remus UUV (11, 15 & 18 m survey modules); SeaCat UUVs (Arcims-class variants)
Complement2 berths (11 m variants), 4 berths (13.8 & 15 m variants), up to 9 crew (HMS Magpie); up to 36 passengers (13.8 m variant); up to 12 cadets (15 m officer training variants)

The Sea-class workboat has been procured for Britain's Royal Navy to undertake a number of roles under its Project Vahana programme, with removable specialised modules including: logistics and transport tasks, inshore and harbour survey work, diver training and support, officer training and providing passenger transfer modules for the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The design was developed from an autonomous minehunting prototype which has also been procured, becoming part of the class.

A procurement contract for £48M was awarded to Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) in September 2017 for the delivery of up to 38 vessels under the programme. Thirty-five vessels were ultimately built, with deliveries beginning in 2018 and completing in 2024. Only HMS Magpie (the largest boat in the series) is formally a commissioned warship of the Navy. The remaining boats are not technically commissioned warships.