UK Naval Oil Fuel Depots

The Oil & Pipelines Agency operate six Oil Fuel Depots (OFDs) around the United Kingdom. Gosport and Thanckes OFDs are located in southern England and support the adjacent HM Naval Bases, Portsmouth and Devonport respectively. The four remaining OFDs are located in Scotland. The Scottish site at Garelochhead supports its adjacent Naval base, whilst Loch Striven, Loch Ewe and Campbeltown provide bulk storage and regional support to visiting Royal Navy and NATO warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers.

All bulk product delivery is by sea.

Gosport Oil Fuel Depot redevelopment

Oil Fuel Depot Gosport is a marine bulk fuel storage site. A multi-million pound redevelopment project to replace the tanks and upgrade other buildings began in 2018

The redevelopment of the Gosport OFD has commenced

The site comprises two site offices, the main site area that holds seventeen storage tanks and the jetty area, which allows delivery to and from ships

An aerial view of the Oil Fuel Depot, Gosport

The site is off Forton Road, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 4TH.

The types of fuel stored at Gosport are AVCAT and diesel.

The fuel tanks are over 100 years old and are approaching their end of service life. The project will ensure that the depot will be fully equipped to meet the future requirements of the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers

Thanckes OFD

Oil Fuel Depot Thanckes is a marine bulk fuel storage site. The main function of the terminal is the receipt, storage and issue of Class 3 fuel products, Diesel and Avcat for the Royal Navy and other approved customers.

Thanckes OFD is located on the west bank of the Hamoaze, just north of the town of Torpoint, Cornwall in the southwest of England and was originally built in the 1920s

An aerial view of the Oil Fuel Depot, Thanckes and of Yonderberry Pier

Due to the volume of fuel stored at the site, OFD Thanckes is an ‘upper tier’ site under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH).

Garelochhead OFD

Garelochhead OFD is located along the north east shore of Gare Loch and serves the adjacent Naval Base which is located immediately south of the OFD. Garelochhead was constructed in the mid -1950s and operates as a diesel fuel storage depot for the Royal Navy and NATO vessels.

Due to the volume of fuel stored at the site, OFD Garelochhead is an ‘upper tier’ site under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH).

Campbeltown OFD

Campbeltown OFD site serves a dual function; storing diesel for the Royal Navy and NATO vessels and aviation fuel for commercial clients. The site was constructed in 1964 and is located on the south-eastern shore of Campbeltown Loch.

Due to the volume of fuel stored at the site OFD Campbeltown is an ‘upper tier’ site under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (CoMAH).

Loch Striven OFD

Loch Striven was a test-site for the ‘bouncing bombs’ designed by the English engineer Sir Barnes Wallis during World War II. Initially these were used in the famous ‘dam-buster’ raids, but Loch Striven was then chosen for air crews to train for a new operation against the German battleship Tirpitz, lying at the time in a Norwegian fjord

The Oil Fuel Site operates as a diesel and aviation fuel storage depot for the Royal Navy and NATO vessels. Loch Striven OFD was originally built in the 1960’s and is located on the south east shore of the loch

An aerial view of the Oil Fuel Depot, Loch Striven

Due to the volume of fuel stored at the site, OFD Loch Striven is an ‘upper tier’ site under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH).

Loch Ewe OFD

The Loch Ewe site operates as a diesel fuel depot for the Royal Navy, NATO vessels and storage facility for commercial clients. Loch Ewe OFD was originally built in the 1960s and is located in Ross-shire to the south of Aultbea, on the eastern shore of the loch

An aerial view of the Oil Fuel Depot, Loch Ewe

Due to the volume of fuel stored at the site OFD Loch Ewe is an ‘upper tier’ site under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH).

A further article will be publised on Overseas Naval Oil Fuel Depots and also closed UK Naval Oil Fuel Depots in due course