Royal Navy patrol ships continue to demonstrate 'important global reach' in the Indo-Pacific
UK Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie has praised the "very important" global reach displayed by HMS Spey.
The Royal Navy's offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey has been busy during Exercise SamaSama23 and has shared a timelapse video of her entry into Manila, capital city of the Philippines.
After a busy period on Ex SamaSama, working alongside allies and regional partners, HMS Spey said on X, formerly Twitter: "It's time for a logistics stop ahead of our continued operations further afield."
Ex SamaSama is a significant multinational exercise symbolising a united front and collective statement with the aim of improving interoperability between partner nations and allies.
'SAMASAMA' means 'together' in Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines.
The Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel Spey has been deployed to the Indo-Pacific region since January 2022, sailing more than 69,793 nautical miles.
Acting as the eyes and ears of the Royal Navy, HMS Spey has been working with Britain's allies to carry out security patrols to deal with drug-running, smuggling, terrorism and other illegal activities.
During Ex SamaSama23, Baroness Goldie was able to get on board.
HMS Spey said she had a brief tour and informal chat with the ship's company and was provided with some "first-hand experience on how we operate alongside our regional partners at sea".
'An honour' to board Spey
Baroness Goldie said it was "absolutely brilliant" to be on board Spey.
"Having talked for many months about Spey, telling everyone what an important job she and Tamar are doing, it's a real thrill and it's an honour to actually board Spey and enjoy time with the captain and crew," the Defence Minister said.
Spey was part of the Minister's wider visit to the Philippines. She pledged a continued commitment to support peace and security in the Indo-Pacific through the permanent presence of Spey and her sister ship HMS Tamar.
The Royal Navy's most eco-friendly vessel, HMS Tamar was recently welcomed into Sydney, Australia.
"Hello, Sydney. Thank you to HMAS Kuttabul for the warm welcome!" Tamar posted on X.
HMS Tamar is spending the autumn – spring in the Southern Hemisphere – in and around Australia and Oceania, while Spey will be concentrating her efforts around Central and East Asia.
HMS Tamar, with her sister ship HMS Spey, is considered the most eco-friendly ship in the Navy, with its diesel exhaust reducing emissions by 90%, and a ballast water management system, allowing her to patrol the world's most sensitive areas subject to the strictest emissions restrictions.
The ships have provided aid in the wake of natural disasters, supported environmental efforts such as tackling illegal fishing, monitoring water quality, helped update seafaring charts, exercised with a string of navies and enforcement authorities, flown the flag for the UK and made a lot of new friends along the way.
In July, Spey and Tamar enjoyed a special reunion in Australia after many months apart.
In September, Tamar and Spey celebrated two years of being deployed on their Indo-Asia-Pacific mission which has seen more than '54,000 miles steamed; and more than 30 ports visited'.
Lieutenant Commander Matt Millyard, who has been both Executive Officer of HMS Tamar and now is Spey's temporary Commanding Officer, said: "It's been an incredible two years so far and we've achieved so much.
"The future for Tamar and Spey in the Indo-Pacific remains just as exciting as the past two years."
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