MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Goodbye Grey Rover: RFA ship heads north for decomissioning

THE Falklands said a sad farewell to Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Grey Rover last month, as the vessel left the Islands for the last time before being decommissioned.

Grey Rover was built by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders on the Tyne and was accepted into service in 1970 which makes her the oldest RFA in service. Her sister ships, Black Rover and Gold Rover have both been on station in the Falklands before and Gold Rover will once again return south in March.

Chief Officer Chris Locke has had a personal involvement with Grey Rover since 1984 when he first joined her in Portland as a Junior Third Officer.

Over the years he has served in every rank up to his present position as the Executive Officer and second in Command. He told Penguin News that Grey Rover has become a second home to him and he will be sad to see her finally come out of service when she decommissions in Portsmouth at the end of March.

He commented, "To date we are not sure what will happen once the ship is decommissioned; she will either unfortunately be sold for scrap or more likely - and we all hope - she will be sold to another government for further use as a replenishment tanker."

The ship left the Falklands for the last time on Battle Day, December 8, a date Chris described as "right and proper". He added, "It is hard to believe that Grey Rover will not be seen around the Falklands again."

Grey Rover's programme up to her decommissioning day remains in support of HMS Southampton.

The ship spent Christmas and New Year in Rio de Janeiro where some crew were joined by family members. Chris added, "We then sail for the Caribbean with HMS Southamptonand will be working with the US Coast Guard in Counter Drug operations. "We will visit San Juan, Tortola and finally Guadeloupe for Independence Day."

Grey Rover's ships company comprises of 49 officers and ratings manned by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Her primary role is to replenish warships of the Royal Navy with fuel oil, aviation oil, lubricants, fresh water and a limited amount of cargo and refrigerated stores whilst underway.

Chris explained the process of transferring fuel at sea by Replenishment At Sea (RAS). "This requires the warship and RFA to steam along side by side while the fuel and stores are passed from one ship to the other via hoses and lines which are rigged between the ships.

"Grey Rover is able to RAS two ships one each side at the same time. In the Falklands this has recently been conducted with HMS Southampton and HMS Dumbarton Castle.

"This is a complex task which requires a high degree of seamanship especially in rough weather and at night."(PN)