Island-class patrol vessel explained

The Island-class patrol vessel was first designed and built for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. As a result of the Royal Navy's experiences in the Cod Wars with Iceland, FPV Jura (loaned to the Navy as) and FPV Westra were put in fishery protection patrols, the Navy built a further seven. These ships were designed and built by Hall Russell of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Fishery protection cruisers

FPV Jura and FPV Westra were built by Hall, Russell & Company of Aberdeen in 1973 and 1975 respectively. Jura was loaned to the Royal Navy between 1975 and 1977 for evaluation.[1]

Royal Navy offshore fishery protection ships

The success of Jura encouraged the Royal Navy to build a further seven ships to the same design; these ships formed the bulk of the Fishery Protection Squadron, whose mission was to patrol the Atlantic fishing grounds, and ensure the security of the British oil and gas fields in the North Sea. However, since the mid-1990s, the class has been gradually decommissioned; Jersey was sold to the Bangladesh Navy in 1994, to be followed by Shetland, Alderney, Anglesey, Guernsey and Lindisfarne, with Orkney going to Trinidad and Tobago. The Island class was replaced in the Fishery Protection Squadron by the three ships of the .

Ships in class

NamePennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedStatus
Jura class OPVs (2)
FPV JuraP296 (HMS Jura)Hall, Russell & Company1973It was the design basis for the 7 Island class OPVs. Jura was sold in 1988 to Marrs of Hull and renamed Criscilla, and then sold to Marr Vessel Management Ltd renamed again as N'Madi. According to one source the ship sold to Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauretania in 1992. She was broken up in Portugal in November 2001.[2]
FPV WestraHall, Russell & Company19741975Sister ship of FPV Jura. Sold to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and renamed .
Island-class OPVs (7)
HMS AngleseyP277Hall, Russell & CompanySold to the Bangladesh Navy and renamed BNS Gomati.
HMS AlderneyP278Hall, Russell & CompanySold to the Bangladesh Navy and renamed BNS Karotoa.
HMS JerseyP295Hall, Russell & CompanySold to the Bangladesh Navy and renamed BNS Shaheed Ruhul Amin.
HMS GuernseyP297Hall, Russell & CompanySold to the Bangladesh Navy and renamed BNS Sangu.
HMS ShetlandP298Hall, Russell & CompanySold to the Bangladesh Navy and renamed BNS Kapotaksha.
HMS OrkneyP299Hall, Russell & CompanySold to Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and renamed TTS Nelson.
HMS LindisfarneP300Hall, Russell & CompanySold to the Bangladesh Navy and renamed BNS Turag.

Disposal

Presently, five Island-class patrol vessels are in active service with the Bangladesh Navy. They are (ex-Alderney), (ex-Shetland), (ex-Lindisfarne), (ex-Anglesey) and (ex-Guernsey). Another ex-Royal Navy Island-class vessel, Jersey, was used as the training ship, Shaheed Ruhul Amin. The final ship of the class, ex-Royal Navy vessel Orkney is in service with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and named TTS Nelson.

The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency Westra was sold to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 2006 and renamed . Jura was sold in 1988 and renamed Criscilla, and then N'Madi. She was broken up in Portugal in November 2001.

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scottish Fishery Protection Cruisers. 2009-07-13.
  2. Web site: Aberdeen Ships. Aberdeen City Council . aberdeenships.com. 2016-11-10.