Government deal aims to provide facilities and expertise to support submarine fleet.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled a 15-year, £200 million project to develop the high-tech skills and expertise in the UK's maritime industry in order to support the Royal Navy's current and future submarine fleet.
Under the Maritime Strategic Capabilities Agreement (MSCA), the MoD will work with research organisation QinetiQ to provide scientific expertise and facilities to aid skills development.
Among the sites included in the MSCA are QinetiQ's Ocean Basin at Haslar in Portsmouth, a 120 m by 60 m tank with a state-of-the-art wave machine that tests the design and manoeuvrability of prototype submarines and ships in different conditions.
Experts in maritime life support, submarine hydrodynamics and structure and survivability will also work under the agreement to improve skills and education.
Admiral Ian Tibbit, director-general of safety and engineering at MoD Defence Equipment and Support said: "The MSC agreement secures the long-term availability of cutting edge submarine and marine science expertise necessary both to support the continued safe running of today's flotilla ... and to enable the design of future submarines and vessels."
The MoD added that the MSCA will secure skilled jobs at Gosport and Rosyth, as all surface ship work will be undertaken at the facilities to maximise their use.