On Saturday 31st October, 2020 the latest Naval Vessel acquired by the Royal Bahrain Naval Force – RBNS AL ZUBARAH 80 entered Grand Harbour with her last port as Tangier, Morocco after leaving Portland, UK on her delivery voyage.
She’s the former Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) River Class HMS CLYDE P 257 which was expected to be taken by Brazil once the Royal Navy lease expired however this transaction was declined by the Brazilian Navy and instead HMS Clyde is now part of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force. She was decommissioned on the 20th December 2019 at HMNB Portsmouth and was returned to her owners at BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships, although HMS CLYDE remained under lease from BAE Systems to the Royal Navy until the end of March 2020.
On Friday 7th August a handover ceremony at HMNB Portsmouth was held and officially HMS CLYDE was renamed to RBNS AL ZUBARAH 80.
On Friday 9th October she was spotted leaving Portsmouth, UK
On Saturday 24th October she was spotted entering the Mediterranean Sea –
On Wednesday 28th October she was spotted heading to Valletta from Tangier, Morocco –
And she passed Grand Harbour breakwaters at 0746 hrs with tugboat SEA SALVOR as standby position…..
She berthed starboard side alongside at Pinto 2 Wharf , Valletta Cruise Port.
And she left Grand Harbour on Tuesday 3rd November at 1538 hrs bound to home via Suez.
Photos by Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos Team. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Wednesday 4th November, 2020.
