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
-
SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy
The UK Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare Spearhead programme, run by the service’s Develop Directorate, has been investigating future and existing technologies with a particular focus on the USV arena.
-
Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD
A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.
-
Royal Navy to receive DragonFire laser system
The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) made the decision to accelerate the laser programme from the demonstrational stage to an operational laser weapon.
-
Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought SSBNs to be equipped with OSI’s ECPINS
The contracts between OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) and BAE Systems Submarines will encompass continued support for the Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) and the future Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).