In a historic first, a Royal Navy warship has been formally affiliated with Gibraltar.
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, HMS Stirling Castle – the Navy's minehunting mothership – will now be afforded closer ties with the Rock, deepening a connection rooted in maritime tradition.
The Royal Navy has long since affiliated its warships with cities, towns and boroughs across the UK – and the practice has now been extended to British Overseas Territories.
Deepening ties
Commanding officer of HMS Stirling Castle, Commander Phil Harper, spoke to BFBS Gibraltar about the significance of the new affiliation.
"From our point of view, I hope it means we get back here much more often... carrying this forward with Gibraltar is an absolute godsend to us," he said.
"I've been here many times. I've lived and worked here. I've commanded a ship running out of Gibraltar – I absolutely love the place," adding he was not the only sailor in the Royal Navy who would say the same.
A ceremony marked the occasion, attended by guests including the Governor of Gibraltar, Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst and the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, with Mayor Nicholas Guerrero co-signing the memorandum.
Game changer
Beginning her life as an offshore support vessel MV Island Crown, she was purchased by the Ministry of Defence in 2023, first commissioned into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, before later transitioning into full Royal Navy service in 2025.
Augmenting the fleet's autonomous minehunting capability, HMS Stirling Castle carries and launches underwater drones that can pinpoint sea mines and historic ordnance.
The ship uses cutting-edge technology to act as a 'mother ship' for an array of remotely-operated and autonomous systems scouring home waters looking for mines.
Cdr Harper, currently commanding his tenth ship, describes HMS Stirling Castle as a "game changer" in the way in which mines are hunted.
"Previously, you put a minehunter with 50 people on board in the minefield with all the obvious dangers that brings. Being able to do it from outside the minefield with uncrewed vehicles both reduces danger and makes it faster," he said.
As well as being equipped for autonomous minehunting, the ship has all mod cons and, being a former North Sea oil rig support vessel, she even has her very own sauna.
The vessel is currently in Gibraltar after delivering essential equipment to RFA Lyme Bay, which is now fully repurposed as a minehunting mothership ahead of a potential mission in the Strait of Hormuz.
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