HMS Mersey, the youngest of the original batch of River class patrol vessels built for the Fishery Protection Squadron arrives on Friday for the start of her refit.
She will drydock over the weekend for a six-week period. Repair work will also include a major painting programme.
Mersey was the last ship to be built at Vosper Thornycroft yard in Woolston, Southampton. Like her sister ships the vessel is not owned by the RN but leased by BAE who retain the responsibility for any major maintenance and upkeep.
The Fishery Protection Squadron is the oldest unit in the Royal Navy. Mersey patrols the waters of the UK and up to 200 miles in the Atlantic ensuring that fishing boats and trawlers stick to internationally-agreed quotas.
During her career to date, HMS Mersey has steamed a total of 391,653 nautical miles and spent nearly 50,000 hours at sea.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article