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Telegraph
28-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Navy's only amphibious warship unsafe to sail
The Royal Navy's only amphibious warship has been declared unsafe to put to sea. RFA Argus is unable to leave the Portsmouth Naval Base because maritime authorities have said the ship is unfit to sail. The inability of Argus, currently designated as the naval service's sole amphibious warfare vessel, to put to sea means the Navy has no ships capable of delivering the Royal Marines en masse into war zones. Chris Parry, a retired admiral who once commanded the UK Amphibious Task Group, said the Argus was 'only ever a sticking plaster' and that the naval service's reliance on the ship was an example of 'strategic incoherence'. Amphibious means a ship that carries either helicopters or landing craft for putting troops ashore. The vessel's safety problems reportedly include a leaky ballast tank, difficulties with fire doors and a worn seal on her main aircraft lift. Its safety certification was withdrawn by Lloyds Register and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after her arrival in Portsmouth on June 8, the Navy Lookout website reported. A Royal Navy spokesman said there were no current plans for Argus to put to sea until 'all identified defects' have been fixed. It comes after the ship spent five months being overhauled at APCL Falmouth, emerging from that maintenance period at the end of March. She had been due to leave Portsmouth for further repairs in the Cornish port. Problems with the Argus potentially affect Britain's role in Nato, where, under long-standing plans in the event of Russia attacking an alliance member, Royal Marines would be deployed by amphibious ship to Norway. Such a deployment would block Russia from gaining access to new Norwegian bases from where it could attack US reinforcements sailing across the Atlantic as well as launching raids against the UK. 'The predictable obsolescence of RFA Argus demonstrates the strategic incoherence at the heart of the government's defence policy,' said Mr Parry. 'She was only ever a sticking plaster that covered a gaping wound in our amphibious capability caused by the conceptual and political failure to procure the right vessels to complement the Future Commando Force, and to provide appropriate 21st century fighting power for littoral operations.' Used during the Falklands War The Future Commando Force was a creation of the Conservatives' 2021 Integrated Defence Review. It was intended to result in £50 million being spent converting one of the RFA's dedicated Bay-class amphibious warships into a so-called 'littoral strike' vessel, operating together with one of the Navy's dedicated Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships. That plan disintegrated after Labour decided to sell off the LPDs last November to save money. Both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark have been decommissioned and are now in the process of being bought by Brazil. Argus was originally built as a freighter-cum-ferry under the name MV Contender Bezant. She was requisitioned for the Falklands War in 1982 and has remained in naval service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ever since, having been extensively modified from her original civilian design. She is currently fitted as a 'primary casualty receiving ship', effectively a hospital ship but carrying weapons to defend herself. International law says that a true hospital ship – such as the American vessel USNS Mercy – must be unarmed, however, so Argus cannot technically be given that designation. 'No current plans for the ship to depart' The RFA is a civilian-manned auxiliary fleet that was originally set up to resupply the Royal Navy fleet at sea. After decades of budget cuts to its parent service, the RFA now operates its vessels on tasks that used to be allocated to RN warships. All of the RFA's three Bay-class ships are currently docked for refits, meaning they cannot immediately be put to sea. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'We are collaborating closely with Lloyd's surveyors, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and our industry partners to address issues recently identified with RFA Argus. 'There are no current plans for the ship to depart until all identified defects have been rectified.'
The Irish Sun
26-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Royal Navy's only hospital ship banned from sailing as it's so decrepit it could sink
THE Navy's only hospital ship is so decrepit it has been banned from sailing amid fears it could sink. RFA Argus — which first saw action during the Navy chiefs want to send the ship back to Falmouth, Cornwall, for more urgent work. But the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Lloyds insurers ruled the crew and other vessels would be at risk if Argus left her Solent mooring near Portsmouth. A naval source said: 'This is what hollowed-out means. "Argus has so many problems. Read More on UK News "There's no way they'll let her sail back for proper repairs.' It is a humiliating blow to proud Royal Navy as its fleet sinks to an all time low. Labour have axed seven warships – including two frigates – in their first year in office. It leaves the Royal Navy fleet with just 15 prinipal warships, including five frigates, six defenders and two aircraft carriers. Most read in The Sun Around half those are in dock for repairs. A Royal Navy spokesman said talks were taking place with Lloyds and the Coastguard 'to address' issues with the 28,000-tonne vessel. They added: 'There are no current plans for the ship to depart until all identified defects have been rectified.' Putin's Navy plans are 'bonkers' as PR stunt highlights fatal flaws 1 The Navy's only hospital ship is so decrepit it has been banned from sailing amid fears it could sink Credit: PA
Scottish Sun
26-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Royal Navy's only hospital ship banned from sailing as it's so decrepit it could sink
Navy chiefs want to send the ship back to Falmouth, Cornwall, for more urgent work SINKING SHIP Royal Navy's only hospital ship banned from sailing as it's so decrepit it could sink THE Navy's only hospital ship is so decrepit it has been banned from sailing amid fears it could sink. RFA Argus — which first saw action during the Falklands War in 1982 — underwent major repairs in April. Advertisement Navy chiefs want to send the ship back to Falmouth, Cornwall, for more urgent work. But the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Lloyds insurers ruled the crew and other vessels would be at risk if Argus left her Solent mooring near Portsmouth. A naval source said: 'This is what hollowed-out means. "Argus has so many problems. Advertisement "There's no way they'll let her sail back for proper repairs.' It is a humiliating blow to proud Royal Navy as its fleet sinks to an all time low. Labour have axed seven warships – including two frigates – in their first year in office. It leaves the Royal Navy fleet with just 15 prinipal warships, including five frigates, six defenders and two aircraft carriers. Advertisement Around half those are in dock for repairs. A Royal Navy spokesman said talks were taking place with Lloyds and the Coastguard 'to address' issues with the 28,000-tonne vessel. They added: 'There are no current plans for the ship to depart until all identified defects have been rectified.' Putin's Navy plans are 'bonkers' as PR stunt highlights fatal flaws 1 The Navy's only hospital ship is so decrepit it has been banned from sailing amid fears it could sink Credit: PA
