HMS Spey gets back on the high seas after her repairs are completed in Japan

25th June 2024 at 4:47pm

The second-generation River-class offshore patrol vessel has returned to her Indo-Pacific deployment (Picture: Royal Navy)

Repairs to HMS Spey have been succesfully completed thanks to the expertise and support of Japan Marine United in Yokosuka, in the Greater Tokyo Area.

The Royal Navy ship, which has been part of an extensive Indo-Pacific deployment, underwent necessary maintenance, described on X as “defect rectification”, to restore her full operational capabilities.

The vessel’s repairs were carried out efficiently, allowing HMS Spey to quickly return to a training exercise.

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HMS Spey, the fifth and final of the second-generation River-class offshore patrol vessels built for the Royal Navy, is affectionately dubbed the “last of class – best of class” by her crew.

In January, HMS Spey departed Singapore to continue her deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.

HMS SPEY recently completed defect rectification with the assistance of our friends in Japan and the support of Japan Marine United in Yokosuka.
The Ship has now been fully restored to its capabilities and is back out on the high seas undertaking vital training for the Ship’s Co. pic.twitter.com/7xdEVOcheo— HMS Spey (@HMS_Spey) June 25, 2024

Working closely with Britain’s allies, the ship has been conducting security patrols aimed at combating drug-running, smuggling, terrorism, and other illegal activities.

Since May, HMS Spey has been involved in sea patrols aimed at stopping smugglers from helping North Korea develop nuclear weapons by enforcing international sanctions.

In a first-of-its-kind joint operation, the Royal Navy and its South Korean counterpart have carried out patrols around the Korean Peninsula.

HMS Spey has been assigned no permanent base and instead uses Pacific bases and ports relevant to her current mission.

HMS Spey arriving in Yokosuka in April (Picture: UK in Japan)

Before that, in 2022, the patrol vessel was involved in fishery protection operations around key islands in the Indo-Pacific, safeguarding marine resources and supporting local economies.

While the specifics of the recent “defects” have not been disclosed, Forces News has contacted the Royal Navy regarding the nature of the repairs.

The collaboration between the Royal Navy and its Japanese counterparts highlights the strong international partnerships that the UK has been involved in to maintain maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

The UK, US and Japan are set to hold regular military exercises together in the region starting next year, in addition to participating in various ongoing exercises, which will see HMS Tamar and HMS Spey remain continuously deployed in the region.

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