ottingham City Council has today cement their affiliation with the Royal Navy at the official naming ceremony for the HMS Trent.
The newest naval ship was officially named today at a dockland where the ship was built on the River Clyde in Glasgow.
HMS Trent is joining the Royal Navy’s fleet and will be used to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling.
The Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Nottingham, Glyn Jenkins, who is a naval veteran himself, were both there to mark the
affiliation and honour the new Ship, which was officially named with a press of a button and smashed with a bottle of gin, which was distilled close to the River Trent.
Councillor Mike Edwards, Lord Mayor of Nottingham, said: “It was an honour to be in Glasgow today to see the naming ceremony and to witness this great ship. Our affiliation to HMS Trent has re-established our links with the Royal Navy and as a council we value the work done by our armed forces personnel.”
The last time the city was affiliated with the Royal Navy was with the T42 Destroyed, HMS Nottingham, which was decommissioned in 2010.
Minister for Defence Procurement, Guto Bebb, said: “As the third of five offshore patrol vessels being built in Scotland, Trent will soon be part of a fleet of highly capable ships. These new vessels will keep the UK safe by conducting counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and other vital maritime operations.”
The vessel will be one of five river class boats which are currently being built on the River Clyde as part of a £348 million contract. As the third of five Offshore Patrol Vessels being built in Scotland, HMS Trent will soon be part of a fleet of highly capable ships.
The sixth Royal Navy vessel to bear the name, HMS Trent will be armed with a medium-calibre gun and a flight deck capable of accommodating a Merlin helicopter. Within the next few days the 90-metre warship, which is the third to be named following HMS Forth and HMS Medway, will take to the water for the first time and make the short journey across the Clyde from Govan to Scotstoun where she will be fitted out for sea trials.
Following a period of rigorous sea trials, HMS Trent is expected to be delivered to the Royal Navy in the second half of 2018.