The United Kingdom and Bangladesh have signed a government-to-government defence sales agreement for the transfer of the former Royal Navy survey vessel HMS Enterprise, an Echo-class hydrographic and oceanographic ship previously operated by the Royal Navy.
The agreement was signed at Bangladesh Navy Headquarters in Dhaka, following what officials described as extensive technical engagement between the Bangladesh Navy, the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy.
According to the British High Commission in Dhaka, the vessel will support Bangladesh’s maritime security and contribute to wider regional stability efforts, while also expanding the country’s hydrographic and oceanographic survey capacity. The ship is also expected to support scientific research activity and provide opportunities for Bangladeshi universities.
The signing ceremony was attended by British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, Defence Attaché Commander Lee Norton, and a UK Ministry of Defence commercial representative.
Cooke described the transfer as a reflection of growing defence ties between the two countries, stating: “The sale of this survey vessel reflects the deep trust and strong cooperation between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh. HMS Enterprise served the Royal Navy with distinction, and we are proud to see her begin a new chapter supporting Bangladesh’s maritime capability and our shared commitment to a secure and prosperous Bay of Bengal.”
The UK government said the sale highlights its continued partnership with Bangladesh in enhancing maritime security and promoting a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, with the ship’s new role expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s ability to conduct survey operations, support humanitarian and disaster-response missions, and improve understanding of its maritime environment.
But who’s paying who ?
Did we swap it for 200,000 “skilled workers” students and dependents on Visas? Or can we sent back the 7225 Bangladeshi asylum seekers that lodged claims on 2024 alone?
Don’t you know those skilled workers are going to diversify the countryside? The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs have already spent hundreds of thousands of tax payers pounds to do so, and I, for one, welcome our new diverse overlords.
100% with you on that one David
Assume its to replace the 41 year old BNS Anushandhan (aka HMS Roebuck)… Enterprise and Echo were amazing ships for The RN, Bangladesh will have her for another 20 years….. I wonder who will purchase Echo….Echo… Echo…
Another disposal without a replacement? They won’t be happy until everything is gone
Even after all surface ships and RAF squadrons have been cut the MOD will still say there’s a black hole! I guess the funding of pensions and civvies at MoD will do all the hard fighting.
Not true. I saw a RHIB in Devonport flying the White Ensign the other day. We could fit a Twin Super-Soaker to the front and 2 x 100 cell super air-bomb firework on the back and scare the Russian Showdown ships from our Fibre optics.
I think that would fall foul of net zero with any service personnel hauled through the courts in 30 years time by the next generation of human rights lawyers.
It feels really odd that we are disposing of ships that are within hull age limits when we are still heading down the frigate curve.
What would we do in an emergency?
I’m not advocating turning them into pretend OPVs but there does come a point where we do have to have a fallback position. These ships were built to decent standards.
Soon the combatant fleet will be six T45 which although brilliant AAW ships are not ASW tugs and that is where Echo and Enterprise could have fitted in.
I asked that question on another website when I asked why minehunters could not be employed in the ASW role for the Baltic and was met with derision and snorting by some RN grownups who wrote if you know, you know. Tap their noses. Tossers.
So, either people were blowing smoke up my hoop or they were useless. Do you have any public realm details?
The nine hunters wouldn’t be that much use.
Echo and Enterprise were built for doing sonar and other ‘special’ work. So they should be perfectly capable.
There isn’t much in the public domain about Echo and Enterprise for good reason.
Completely agree flogging hulls that could provide a useful function when we are in a hybrid war with Russia and the escort fleet is crashing is a bit bonkers really.
The interesting bit of this would be whether we have access to the data it produces. If so, we’ve just gained a permanent survey vessel in the region for no cost. It may not always survey what we want, but still not a total loss of capability perhaps
She won’t be sold with her full sensor outfit.
How much did we get for her and how will that be spent?
Cut price no doubt .This is Starmers government way of preparing for war ,so is next move is selling of one of our Carriers ? And having a Chinese super Embassy in London .The quicker he leaves number 10 the better and is rabble. 👋 bye bye
Why sell these off to another country when we could give them to border force to stop the illegal immigrate invade our shores.