RFA Tidesurge dedicated at Greenock

Naval staff salute during the raising of the Union Jack on board RFA Tidesurge during her dedication ceremony.

Royal Navy and RFA personnel, families and local dignitaries attend the dedication ceremony of RFA Tidesurge.

adet Andrew Miller, Cadet Ewan McKenzie, Captain Miles Lewis, CO of RFA Tidesurge, Joanna, Lady Woodcock, Cadet Heather Wilson and Cadet Fionn McCole on board RFA Tidesurge.

Head of the RFA Service Commodore Duncan Lamb addresses the ceremony.

The latest Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Tidesurge, was dedicated at Greenock’s Ocean Terminal yesterday.

The 39,000-tonne fleet replenishment tanker is one of four new RFA ships which will be the biggest in service.

Previously, Greenock was the affiliated town of RFA Gold Rover, which supported the Royal Navy, NATO, and coalition allies for over 40 years.

RFA Tidesurge will now take on that role, continuing its close ties with the area.

Members of the RFA, military personnel, dignitaries and civil dignitaries from Greenock gathered at the waterside for the dedication ceremony.

Guest of honour at the event was the ship’s sponsor, Lady Joanna Woodcock, accompanied by her husband, former Second Sea Lord, Sir Jonathan Woodcock.

Also attending the event were local Sea Cadets, with their unit changing its name to TS Tidesurge to mark the special link between the vessel and town.

“Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tidesurge is the third of our four new fleet replenishment tankers,” said Commodore Duncan Lamb, head of the RFA service.

“With her flight deck capable of operating Chinook helicopters, double probe replenishment at sea rigs, self-defence capability, and versatile fuel cargo system, she represents a crucial element of the Royal Navy task group of the future and a key enabler of our navy’s global reach.”

RFA Tidesurge is the third of class of the Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Tankers, which includes in-service sister ships RFA Tidespring and Tiderace, and RFA Tideforce which will become operational later this year.

The Tide class tankers are flexible, double-hulled vessels which will provide a key future underway replenishment at sea capability and support to the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers.

Once in service, Tidesurge will also provide fuel and water for Royal Navy warships all around the world.

The vessels will also be able to undertake a wide range of maritime operations, such as constabulary patrols policing shipping lanes, humanitarian relief, as well as providing support to NATO and coalition allies.