Two of the Royal Navy's latest surface ships, the multi-role oceanographic ships HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise will be undergoing repairs at the docks in May. It will be the first time for many decades that Royal Navy ships have drydocked in the port and is a feather in the cap for the A&P Falmouth management team.

A&P Falmouth commercial director David Daniels confirmed that HMS Echo, commissioned into the Fleet in March, is expected on May 12 for a week long drydocking to be followed a week later by HMS Enterprise which is coming straight from the builders yard at Appledore for work to be carried out on her bottom.

In June 2001, the MOD placed a £130 million order with Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) Ltd to build two new specialist warships. The £44 million sub contract to build the ships was given to Appledore Shipyard. Sections weighing 102 tons were built at Vosper's yard and transported to Appledore for assembly in the covered dock.

The 3,500 ton sisterships will join HMS Scott in the Hydrographic Surveying Squadron (HSS) - these ships will replace Herald, Bulldog, Beagle and Roebuck.

Officially classed as SV(HO)s (Survey Vessel Hydrographic and Oceanographic) the Echo Class will operate with the Fleet in front line operational roles, including the support of mine warfare, amphibious operations, as well as undertaking specialist surveying tasks.

The Echo class are the first ships in the Royal Navy to employ omni-directional podded electrical propulsion systems. Based at Devonport, the ships are equipped with state of the art multi-beam echo sounders, side scan sonars as well as the most advanced navigation and communications systems available today.