HMS Mersey gets Pacific 24 RIBs
The Royal Navy’s HMS Mersey patrol ship has received two new Pacific 24 Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs), the navy announced on 16 May.
The new 25.5ft boats replace the older 22ft Pacific 22 RIBs previously used on operations for more than a decade.
The Pacific 24s can seat more personnel on better seating and can travel at higher speeds, carrying boarding teams to inspect vessels as part of HMS Mersey’s fisheries protection role.
HMS Mersey’s XO Lt Martyn Mayger said: ‘Sea boat operations are our bread and butter and these faster, stronger, more agile boats allow us to conduct our marine enforcement task more effectively.
‘The two Pac24s mark a significant increase in Mersey’s capability, but the boats have their work cut out for them - we are a busy ship.’
The crew have already undergone training on the new vessels.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Euronaval 2026: Red Cat’s Blue Ops follows USV demand from Asia to the Andes]()
Euronaval 2026: Red Cat’s Blue Ops follows USV demand from Asia to the Andes
With its B-26 USV in full-rate production, Blue Ops is seeking to turn overseas interest into orders through a combination of lower operating costs, UAV integration and local manufacturing.
-
![Euronaval 2026: ‘I want to sell 31 Type 31s by 2031’ - CGO maps Babcock’s global push]()
Euronaval 2026: ‘I want to sell 31 Type 31s by 2031’ - CGO maps Babcock’s global push
Chief growth officer Sir Nick Hine tells Shephard how Babcock is lining up New Zealand, Chile, Denmark and the US for its Arrowhead 140 frigate, speaks on the hybrid navy offer and talks AUKUS.
-
![From Chokepoints to the Deep: ASELSAN’s Naval Vision at EURONAVAL]()
From Chokepoints to the Deep: ASELSAN’s Naval Vision at EURONAVAL
From deployable ship defence to autonomous sea and underwater vehicles, ASELSAN is preparing for a new era of naval security.
-
![Euronaval 2026: by the power of six, Fincantieri’s MMMV reflects modular naval shift]()
Euronaval 2026: by the power of six, Fincantieri’s MMMV reflects modular naval shift
The 50m, six-person ship from the Italian shipbuilder carries swappable, containerised payloads instead of a fixed mission, reflecting a shift that is becoming increasingly evident.
-
![Canada’s submarine availability under pressure as Chicoutimi is unlikely to return to front-line duties]()
Canada’s submarine availability under pressure as Chicoutimi is unlikely to return to front-line duties
HMCS Victoria and HMCS Windsor could return from their current deep maintenance, but unconfirmed operational timelines leave questions over patrol capacity before the first CPSP arrives.
