On 10 September 2012, Official Report, column 1WS, I announced plans to preserve the legacy of the Royal Navy’s Invincible class aircraft carriers.

HMS Illustrious, the last of these three iconic ships, is due to retire from service with the Royal Navy in 2014. The Ministry of Defence’s Disposal Services Authority (DSA) has today launched a competition which will seek innovative reuse bids to retain the ship in the UK, with part or all of it developed for heritage purposes.

As a first step, an industry day will be held early in 2014 and applications to attend are now invited from organisations able to put forward mature and viable proposals, in keeping with the role and history of the Invincible class of ships.

Following the industry day, a full and open competitive process will continue throughout the remainder of 2014. In the event that no suitable reuse bids with a heritage element are submitted, the DSA will open up the competition by seeking proposals for other uses or recycling.