HMS Dragon’s mission to Cyprus ‘is being delayed because dockyard only works nine to five, Monday to Friday’

The deployment of HMS Dragon to Cyprus has been delayed following claims by union officials that the naval base responsible for repairs was only operating on a ‘nine to five Monday to Friday’ schedule.

Following Iranian drone attacks last weekend, the destroyer’s mission to protect a British base in Cyprus was halted as the crew scrambled to complete the necessary resources and maintenance.

According to the Prospect union, these delays are a direct result of ‘cost-cutting’ measures introduced by the Ministry of Defense and private contractor Serco.

The union claims the Portsmouth naval base has abandoned its 24-hour staffing model and switched to a standard 9-to-5, weekday-only operation.

Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy said: ‘Our members are stepping up to help but such a vital service should not be reliant on the good will of staff. After-hours support should be included in the contract.

‘This contract has failed in its first real encounter with a serious crisis and needs to be urgently reviewed and corrected.’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was criticized for his decision to deploy the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon to protect the RAF Akrotiri base in the Eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday, more than 72 hours after the conflict in the Middle East began.

The statement comes after RAF Akrotiri was hit by an Iranian drone fired from Lebanon on Sunday, raising major concerns about local air defense standards.

Type 45 Daring-class air defense destroyer warship HMS Dragon is seen docked at HMNB Portsmouth Upper Harbor Munitions Facility (UHFC), outside HM Portsmouth Naval Base on the south coast of England.

British Defense Secretary John Healey meets with the F-35 pilot who shot down a drone while passing a British typhoon and F-35 jets at RAF Akrotiri on March 5

Officials said the damage was minor, but on Thursday it emerged that the drone had crashed into a hangar used by the United States for U2 spy planes that conduct high-altitude reconnaissance missions.

Sir Keir ordered the Type 45 air defense destroyer to the area on Tuesday after France agreed to send frigates to protect the island.

However, as it is being disarmed for scheduled maintenance, it won’t be ready to sail from Portsmouth until next week and it could take another week to get there.

Defense minister Al Carns said the ship would not leave until engineers completed ‘various maintenance’.

As a result, it will reach Cyprus after warships from France and Spain.

According to a report by Politico, the Department of Defense signed a contract with Serco Marine Services last May that effectively ended 24-hour staffing at the port.

Prospect, the union representing engineers and tugboat workers, claims this reduced capacity has forced its members to volunteer evening and weekend shifts to keep the destroyer combat-ready, following recent tensions in the Middle East.

Serco countered Prospect’s claims, arguing that the contract defined the main working day as 7am to 7pm and included overtime provisions.

A spokesman for Serco said: ‘HMS Dragon is preparing to sail with the full support of our dedicated teams in Portsmouth.

‘Serco carried out every task requested by the Royal Navy on time and to the agreed standard.

‘Any suggestion that the working patterns of Serco employees affected HMS Dragon’s ability to sail is completely false.’