British navy selling frigates

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LONDON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Britain's Disposal Services Authority has put up four Type-22 frigates for commercial sale.

The ships on auction for further use, sinking for an artificial reef or recycling are HMS Chatham, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Cumberland and HMS Cornwall.

Viewing of the ships, which are moored in Portsmouth, by pre-qualified potential bidders will take place Feb. 25-March 15, the agency said.

The Disposal Services Authority, an offshoot of the Ministry of Defense, said it intends to award at least one vessel to a U.K. ship recycler "in part to secure detailed knowledge of the U.K.'s capacity to recycle vessels."

"Any decision to award to a U.K. Ship Recycling company will be made in accordance with transparent and objective evaluation criteria which will be issued at the Invitation to Tender stage," it said.

HMS Cumberland was built in 1988 and was withdrawn from service in September of last year. HMS Campbeltown was built in 1987 and was retired from service last July. HMS Chatham, built in 1989, ceased service in October 2011, as did HMS Cornwall.