A steel cutting ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction of a new modern support ship for the Royal Navy.

The name of the ship, which is more than twice the length of a football field, was announced as RFA Resurgent during the event in Appledore, Devon.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said £115m was being invested across four shipyards for the Fleet Solid Support programme for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, creating 1,200 skilled jobs and 222 apprentice roles.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said it was a “significant moment”, with delivery of the ship expected in 2031.

The MoD said the ship would provide munitions, spares, food and other essential stores to naval vessels at sea.

It said the new capability would ensure the Royal Navy could remain deployed for extended periods without returning to port and “boosting the UK’s warfighting readiness”.

The bow sections of the ships would be built at the north Devon shipyard, with the Appledore facility now employing 200 people, it said.

This year 20 new apprentices were recruited at the site in partnership with Petroc College.

Construction of ship modules would take place at Navantia’s Appledore yard, while final assembly, integration and trials of the ships would take place at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

Mr Pollard said the programme showed defence was “an engine for growth, boosting communities across the UK”.

“In a new era of threat, we are investing more of a rising defence budget in new platforms and technologies,” he said.

Commodore of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Sam Shattock, said: “The ship is innovative to meet the latest environmental protection standards and designed from the bottom up to deliver maritime sustainment as efficiently as possible.”