Royal Navy's offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey visits the Solomon Islands

The Royal Navy's offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey has visited the Solomon Islands.

Spey initially passed through the country's territorial waters in early April 2022 as part of its first tour of the South Pacific.

Alongside her sister ship HMS Tamar, HMS Spey is deployed for five years as part of the Royal Navy and UK's commitment to the Pacific region.

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His Excellency Thomas Coward, British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru, said: "During her time here I hope that HMS Spey is of huge value to Solomon Islands supporting maritime surveillance and fisheries protection.

"I most of all hope this visit will mark the establishment of a close relationship between HMS Spey and Solomon Islands and further strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two countries."

Said to be one of the greenest ships in the fleet, HMS Spey has also worked with regional partners to carry out environmental and hydrographic surveys as well as water sampling to aid studies on climate change.

Spey's recent work in support of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has seen the ship contribute to the fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries activity.

HMS Spey's Commanding Officer, Commander Mike Proudman, said: "It's a huge privilege to bring HMS Spey to the Solomon Islands. As part of our mission in the Pacific, we are building understanding of some of the challenges facing the area."

"It's an important task that will help to safeguard their natural resource as well as contribute to maritime security," the Commanding Officer added.