A specialist mine hunting ship has sailed for the first time as a Royal Navy warship after leaving Merseyside.
Four months after she was handed over from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, HMS Stirling Castle departed West Float, Birkenhead, yesterday for sea trials and training, marking a significant achievement for her sailors.
HMS Stirling Castle, which will be based at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, is the first mine countermeasures mother ship acquired to provide a floating base for autonomous technology.
Commanding Officer, Commander Phillip Harper, praised the crew for their determination and professionalism in getting the ship to sea.
“Taking Stirling Castle out of lay-up and getting her back into service in just four months has demanded extraordinary things from my team,” said Cdr Harper.
“Fortunately, the Royal Navy is blessed with incredible people at every level, and it is their dedication, work ethic and comradeship that has got us to this point and allows Stirling Castle to join the Fleet under the White Ensign.”
Stirling Castle had formerly operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since 2023 but was formally commissioned into Royal Naval service in July.
Since then, her 55 crew have worked tirelessly alongside RFA personnel to prepare the ship for sea, conducting essential maintenance, safety checks, and training to ensure she was ready for operations.
Having now completed those checks and sea safety training, Stirling Castle will undertake a series of trials and assessments.
This will be followed later this year by operational sea training as both ship and sailors prepare to take their place on front-line duties, carrying high-tech equipment, including autonomous surface and underwater vehicles, for specialist mine hunting operations, primarily in UK waters.