RFA Tideforce, the final of four Tide-class tankers being built for the UK in South Korea, was named on January 24 in a ceremony at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shipyard in South Korea.
The ceremony was attended by Royal Marine General Gordon Messenger, British ambassador to Republic of Korea Charles Hay and a number of shipyard and government officials.
The tanker is now set to undergo finishing touches before being officially delivered to Royal Navy in the first half of 2018, according to the shipbuilder.
Once it reaches UK waters after a two-month voyage, the ship will undergo further outfitting, to receive armor, self-defense weaponry and communications systems, and sea trials before entering service.
Future RFA Tideforce, along with sister ships RFA Tidespring, RFA Tiderace and RFA Tidesurge are designed to carry up to 19,000 cubic meters of fuel and 1,400 cubic meters of fresh water in support of Royal Navy operations the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
The Tide Class has a flight deck able to accommodate the large Chinook helicopter and offer significant improvements over previous RFA tankers such as double hulls and greater environmental protection measures.