Royal Navy's HMS Medway Makes Maiden Voyage Into Portsmouth

The second of the Navy’s next-generation patrol ships has arrived in Portsmouth after successfully completing her maiden sea trials.

HMS Medway is the second of five 2,000-tonne River-class 2.0 vessels built for patrol duties in home waters and around the globe.

They are designed for counter-piracy, anti-smuggling, fishery protection, border patrol, counter-terrorism and maritime defence duties.

HMS Medway began life just four years ago on the Clyde, when the steel was first cut. 

Her ship's company have seen her out of the build and on to the sea, which many sailors say builds a tight bond. 

Chief Petty Officer Tom Davis said: "It's challenging, it's rewarding.

"Hopefully moving on we'll get on with our trials, get through them nice and quick, and onto future deployments."

Her captain, Lieutenant Commander Ben Power, said: 'it's quite a big ship': "It's 2,400 tonnes and it's 90 meters, that's a lot of ship for not many ship's company.

"We're all quite close."