Sabre returns to the fray in the bay

With her engines completely serviced and a fresh lick of paint, the 16-metre long Lifespan Patrol Vessel (LPV) has been returned to operations within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) following a 4-week Annual Survey and Repair Period (ASRP). This involved lifting HMS SABRE out of the water, conducting a deep-clean of the vessel both inside and out, including inside the various tanks onboard and conducting an external survey to assess the integrity of the hull.

The biggest change to SABRE was the extensive re-upholstering of the wheelhouse which allows the vessel to remain cool in the summer and provides insulation to keep the sailors warm in the winter.

SABRE’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Lloyd Cardy RN said: “The Scimitar-class vessels have been in service since 1993, having been based in Northern Ireland operating inland before being retro-fitted and commissioned into the Royal Navy in 2003. Since then they have been based in Gibraltar as part of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, providing a constant presence in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.”

He added: “The annual maintenance period is essential in order to ensure that the vessels remain in fighting shape, ready to continue the sovereignty mission assigned to us around the Rock.”

Before being returned to the Squadron the vessel passed a gruelling set of trials to prove that all the machinery was functioning as it should be. Passing with flying colours HMS SABRE is now back on operations.

7-11-2019 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR