Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Tyne recently completed her Operational Sea Training (OST) and is ready for continued operations in and around UK waters.
The Portsmouth-based ship spent a few weeks under the direction of Flag Officer Sea Training North (FOST(N)), leaving her usual operating areas of the 200nm Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around England, Wales and Northern Ireland to head for the waters of the Firth of Clyde.
Executive Officer Lieutenant Craig Clark spent time in Command during OST and led the Reconnaissance Team.
“HMS Tyne has shown she is ready to keep doing what she and her sister ships do throughout the year, ensuring the UK’s Maritime Security and remaining ready to respond,” he said.
The River Class patrol vessels spend up to 300 days per year at sea using a 3 watch manning system to rotate a section of the crew every few weeks.
This means the versatile ships can be called upon at a moment’s notice to help with operations around the UK, or for the case of HMS Clyde, the Falkland Islands.
Most of Tyne’s crew will spend at least 6 months in the Falklands as part of their time in the Fishery Protection Squadron. To support this high level of readiness the ships go through training periods throughout the year to keep them up to speed with the latest procedures.
HMS Tyne is one of the Royal Navy’s four patrol vessels in the Fishery Protection Squadron which conducts Marine Enforcement Operations to protect the UK Fishing Industry, along with a host of other duties to ensure the UK’s Maritime Security.
Three of the OPVs are based in the UK while the fourth, HMS Clyde, is deployed to the Falkland Islands.