MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

HMS Protector formally commissioned as the Royal Navy new Ice patrol

The 5.000 ton vessel has been leased from a Norwegian company

HMS Protector the Royal Navy's new Ice patrol ship has been formally commissioned into the fleet on Thursday, 23 June, the 50th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty at Portsmouth naval base.

HMS Protector will help enforce the treaty which was put in place to ensure that the Antarctic environment is fully protected from exploitation and that scientific research has priority.

The 5,000 ton vessel has been leased from Norwegian company GC Rieber Shipping for three years at an estimated cost of £ 40 million. Just over £13m is estimated to have been spent refitting the ship, which is leased at a cost of £26m while the future of HMS Endurance is considered. Endurance has been out of service since suffering a catastrophic engine room flood in December 2008.

HMS Protector will undergo further sea trials over the next few months and will deploy on the Navy's Antarctic task in November for seven months.

HMS Protector's Commanding Officer, Captain Peter Sparkes, said: “This is a landmark and very proud day for the ship's company of HMS Protector and the Royal Navy. We have much to achieve in the coming months, but we will be ready in every respect to resume the UK's sovereign presence in the British Antarctic and South Atlantic Territory during the 2011/12 austral summer.”

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said the commissioning of HMS Protector showed the UK was committed to protecting the Antarctic as a natural reserve.

“She will carry out important work supporting the hydro-graphic and oceanographic work conducted in the region, which complements the international effort to continue to assess the impact of climate change,” he said

During the ceremony, Captain Sparkes read a Commissioning Warrant and the ceremony was rounded off in traditional Royal Navy fashion with the cutting of a commissioning cake.