NAVIES NEWS IN FOCUS

摘要

Acting with alacrity, as the Russian threat to undersea cables and pipelines increases by the day and the mine menace endures, the United Kingdom has begun conversion work on two special mission vessels. The MV Island Crown is seen here (above, photo by Steve Jagger) in Plymouth Sound, on the way to Devonport Dockyard. She is receiving what the Royal Navy describes as 'minimal conversion work, primarily to support installation of military communication systems and Royal Fleet Auxiliary operations.' The 96.8 metres long vessel -purchased by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) from Island Offshore for ￡40 million - will apparently 'work side-by-side with autonomous mine-hunting systems already operated by the Royal Navy out of Faslane.' There will be a name change before the vessel joins the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) later this year. Commodore Steve Prest, Director Navy Acquisition, said: "The ship will be used to extend the range of our maritime autonomous systems from coastal waters to conducting offshore survey operations in defence of the homeland." Uncrewed systems deployed from the vessel will include the joint French-UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) and Combined Influence Sweep (SWEEP) along with Medium Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MAUVs). At the same time, in the Cammell Laird yard on the Mersey, the first of two planned undersea Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) ships is also receiving work for a new mission. The four- year-old, 6,000 tonnes, 98 metres-long Topaz Tangaroa (pictured, below, right, at Cammells in an image by LPhot Bill SpurrIRN) is an ex-civilian vessel built to support oil rigs and other deep sea businesses. The future RFA Proteus will serve as a mother ship for remotely-operated and autonomous underwater systems to undertake surveillance and seabed warfare missions. She will have a ship's company of around two dozen RFA personnel and approximately 60 Royal Navy specialists in surveillance, survey, and other warfare systems. Commodore David Eagles, boss of the RFA, said: "This is an entirely new mission for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and one we relish." The delivery of the first MROS is months ahead of schedule, as the programme was accelerated late last year. Proteus will enter service in the summer, while the second MROS will be a purpose-built vessel, which is currently in the concept phase.