November 26, 2018 — The Royal navy’s five Offshore Patrol Vessels, each armed withstate-of-the-art weaponry, will support Britain’s fishing fleet in the wake of the recent clashes between British and French fishermen in the English Channel dubbed the “scallops war” earlier this year, after which there were calls on social media to “send in the navy”. They will also offer a boost to national security as the country heads into the uncertain waters of a post-Brexit world – and increasing incursions into British waters by Russian vessels. The future of the Batch 1 Offshore Patrols Vessels (OPVs), HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn, which currently support the Fishery Protection Squadron and which were due to be commissioned, have been secured by an intervention by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
All three will be retained for the next two years at least in order to bolster the UK’s fishing fleet as well as its shores.
Currently the Royal Navy provides about 200 days of fishery protection a year – but Mr Williamson’s announcement means the ships will now be able to offer a combined total of up to 600 days of fishery protection a year if necessary.
Each ship will “forward-operate” from their namesake rivers – from Newcastle, Liverpool and the Cardiff area respectively – in order to boost rapid responses in British waters up and down the nation.
The versatile ships are also vital to the Royal Navy’s anti-smuggling and counter-terrorism work, and often escort foreign vessels, including those from Russia, through the English Channel.