The UK has unveiled its new Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance vessel, RFA Proteus, during a visit by senior NATO leaders to Faslane, home of the UK’s nuclear deterrence force.

Taking its name from Greek mythology, Proteus is the god of rivers and bodies of water, son of Poseidon and often referred to as the ‘old man of the sea.’

The new vessel, which is currently undergoing military conversion at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, originally began as the oil rig support vessel Topaz Tangaroa.

RFA Proteus is a vessel operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary under the purview of the Ministry of Defence. Acquired in 2023, the ship entered drydock at Cammell Laird for modification into a multi-role ocean surveillance (MROS) vessel. The ship was formerly named MV Topaz Tangaroa and used as a platform supply vessel operated by P&O Maritime Logistics. The vessel was sold to the Ministry of Defence in January 2023 for £70 million.

Proteus is one of two new commercial vessels acquired for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2023, the other being RFA Stirling Castle, a mine hunting support ship set to act as a mothership for autonomous minehunters.

Britain’s new minehunting mothership closer to operations

Upon completion, the RFA Proteus will be manned by a crew of approximately 24 RFA sailors, with an additional 60 or so Royal Navy specialists operating autonomous systems and underwater surveillance equipment.

The vessel is expected to play a vital role in enhancing the UK’s maritime capabilities and bolstering its strategic position within NATO.

The ship was assigned the pennant number K60, and its initial conversion for naval service is being conducted at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, UK.

 

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

88 COMMENTS

    • RFAs are crewed at merchant navy levels. RN would require 3 times as many crew to ‘drive’ the vessel.

      • This will obviously be a stupid question to those in the know but why? Why would the RN have to man the ship at 3x the crew to do exactly the same job it would be doing anyway?

    • RN is or was formed by Royal Perogative, the RFA an Act of Parliment. If I remeber correctly you do not need to swear an oath of allegiance when joining the RN as it is a taken that in joining you swear an oath to the crown. It is not the Kings ships for nothing. It is the same with the Army and RAF both these servicies are formed by an Act of Parliment that is the reason that they must swear an oath of allegiance.

      Just a quick side note on this, under the terms of the Royal Perogative impressment (press gang) is still on the books if the King or Queen wants or needs to use it.

      • ….The RFA was not created or formed by Act(s) of Parliament. There is no Royal Charter or Royal Warrant and indeed the term does not appear in the often quoted Order-in-Council of March 1911. Following reorganisation in 1900 aimed at improving efficiency the Fleet Coaling Service was constituted as a separate and distinct Naval Service under direction of the 4th Sea Lord. From this evolved the RFA and then RFA Service.

    • RFA is way cheaper, US navy does the same thing, no point in wasting RN personnel running tankers and monitoring under sea cables.

    • Because its a commercial derived vessel and RFA manning is cheaper and more flexible than RN manning. RN staff dont run or sail the ship. On a Bay for instance the RN staff do CIWS, Force Protection and Battle Staff. Everything else is RFA
      USN do the same thing with their Aux ships under the USNS title. Tugs, Tankers, Supply vessels, Cats, all civvy manned and augmented by Forces Personnel for specialist roles and force protection duties.
      That said the USNS vessels are painted (or not painted in some cases) a wide and varied assortment of colours.
      The ones I have worked on and done refits and maintenance on for example :-
      Ocean going Tugs are grey hulled with white superstructure. Tankers/ supply vessels grey ( No CIWS or anything bigger than a 50 cal onboard…Shocker!) Catamaran EFT are ally and have no paint on them except underwater.
      Survey boats are all white including the hull.
      ESB are grey and again nothing but 50 cals onboard!

  2. Good article. Many more of this type of ship are needed. Hopefully the RN/RFA are going to bring into service a whole flotilla of these vessels. I think probably 6 of this vessel type and 8+ of the “Castle” type are going to ultimately be required- especially as they will likely have MCM primary responsibilities.

    • We can wish for those numbers but this also might be some of what the T32s will be assigned to do. The helipads look downright precarious on these two designs. I think you’d slide off in heavy winds or high seas! Like to see 6 T32s.

      • Q wrote:

        “”The helipads look downright precarious on these two designs. I think you’d slide off in heavy winds or high seas””

        On my second tour of the Falkland’s I found myself on the MV Lycaon (as a boat op) which had a huge helipad fitted to the front of the ship. If tiny weenie airways came a visiting and found the Helipad occupied, they would fly alongside to the middle of the ship and crab themselves sideways between the crane and the forecastle of the ship, land their cab and come aboard for a cuppa 
        https://i.postimg.cc/k4pg524H/e999dca0b32f155106cdccce7a6c9ca1-shire-cargo.jpg
        To be fair, when you are a very young Sapper, things like the above are taken as normal

  3. This should be a RN ship, it’s carrying out a RN role. The RFA’s role is to provide logistics, replenishment, and hospital ship capability. I guess having it RFA is cheaper. Oh and paint the thing!

    • I couldn’t agree more about….”…paint the thing…” – it seems that both of the two ‘new’ off-the-shelf RFA’s are staying blue & white. I honestly give up – all ‘new’ RFA’s are obviously going to be blue & white whether the are new build or off-the-shelf particularly when, I agree again, they are undertaking what is essentially an RN role. Doubtless there will be replies like..”we will paint them RN/RFA grey in the future…”. In the meantime they are ‘beautifully’ loud enough in colour and profile to invite some form of Russian or proxy attack. To those that don’t know, including the MOD, there is a WAR in Europe. The RN/RFA should be adopting an appropriate response – which includes a few buckets of GREY !
      If we cannot afford that, then please let’s stop pretending……..

        • What a relief ! So, however, WHY is the other ‘off-the-shelf’ RFA not being painted grey ?? I am now starting to think that its base of Faslane has something to do with the retention of the blue & white for Castle ‘Whatever’. I sincerely hope not but something is not adding up here from.. ” we cannot afford to paint the ‘new’ RFA’s grey” to – “well we can afford to do one (Proteus), but not the other “. This is either some form of MOD incompetence (not unknown) in the two contracts or its a purposeful decision. One hopes it’s the former…..

          • I suspect because Stirling Case is essentially a prototype for the mothership role and is a short term solution until the LSVs are built. Whereas the Proteus is a longer term solution perhaps?

          • Could well be – but – it’s going to be a fully operational vessel rather than a proving the concept vessel. Though, yes, perhaps the two combine however…..that’s not, I think, how they are portraying its role. Anyway…..just how long is the LSV proving the concept, design, build and commission process going to take ? MOD…..paint the vessel GREY its going to be operational for several years.

          • They might just want to get the ship out to sea on ops first to get it going and work out what works and what doesn’t before putting it through a dockyard cycle.

          • Camouflage innit!
            Some ships are grey, some are dazzle…others look like civvy Offshore Support Ships so they blend into the local surface picture.
            😀

          • I’m just happy that RN has got the extra ship that she needs.

            I can’t believe the fuss over the paint job! It isn’t like it can’t be changed in the next docking.

            Surely what is important is to get her into service?

            Mind you someone will be asking why it doesn’t have triple 16” turrets for shore bombardment or hypersonic missiles.

          • In keeping with modern trends the ship is being allowed to identify as whichever colour it wants to be….

          • Yeah – it probably identifies itself as an aircraft carrier too!!!

            Society today is so f’ed up!!!

    • She is being painted in Liverpool. There are pictures online of her showing one side painted in RN grey. Just a matter of time until she’s done.

    • For quite a number of years nowRFA
      HAVE been carrying out the RN s role whilst they sit in port either broken or enjoying themselves
      RFA personnel have never been recognised for these efforts.
      It is with great disgust that RN personnel whilst on board RFAvessels are awarded extra pay , for going to sea( I thought that was a wind up the first time I heard that )
      They also receive extra if they have to sort out the gash,extra for being away from home and extra if the are in a hot climate – unbelievable
      So if RN had to man those new vessels they would need at least60 personnel just to maintain it never mind another 60 to carry out the operations.
      So RFAare used as they are paid nowhere near as much require less personnel and do the job quicker and better

    • I’m not sure monitoring undersea cables is an RN role, it’s closer to a civilian police role. We don’t expect the army to monitor cables and pipelines on land. Supporting MCM has been an RFA role for a long time with the bays.

      • The Plod wont respond to a burglary for 10 days so monitoring an underwater cable…they might get around to it in around 15 years time. The RN through the MCM force do route surveys where you survey specific sea bed regions and compare the last look to the current look. Any changes may indicate mines or other devices on the sea bed. It makes hunting quicker and easier. Its the skill set that will be used on this sort of vessel.

    • I am never sure whether to say ‘ an RN ship’ or ‘ a RN ship’ as the proununciation of R begins with a vowel😀. As to the subject at hand surely she should at least be painted Navy grey along with other RFA ships?

      • RFA’s are the Grey Funnel Line aren’t they? Blue funnel was a completely different set up if I recall. I was Port Line.

    • It is a commercial vessel and will have more in common with other RFAs from an operating perspective and be an easier transition for RFA crews. Historically the RN has provided Detached Naval Survey parties aboard commercial vessels or ashore, so it makes sense to adopt that approach – means RN crew can focus on the technical aspects of operating sensors and ROVs while the basics of running an essentially merchant marine vessel are left to the RFA.

  5. I wonder how the capability of this ship matches to the soon to be scrapped diligence? Age aside they look almost identical

    • Completely different generation of design and build and very different purposes. Diligence was designed to support and help repair oil rigs and all that entails on the surface and was Ice strengthened.
      Proteus is designed to survey, support and repair subsea installations such as pipelines and cables. And about half the crew due to automation etc.
      What both have in common is flexibility and a logical crossover from one use to another.
      When you consider the lifespan of Diligence and Argus you do just have to think of the sheer value for money these conversions represent.
      So welcome RFA Proteus she stands on the shoulders of Giants.

  7. Well I never , I learn something new everyday:

    The Topaz Tangaroa was selected to meet the requirements of the Royal Navy, having been built four years ago to support a mix of underwater operations, including work on oil rigs, construction, maintenance, and inspection work, as well as autonomous submarine operations.

    The 6,000-tonne vessel is equipped with a helipad, crane, and expansive working deck and features a ‘moon pool’ – a large access point in the underside of the hull through which submersible capabilities can be launched.

      • She has a sister too. The Topaz Tiamat. Hopefully we’ll just purchase her in the near future as well.

      • Morning Daniele. I wonder if she will carry any guns!? Enjoy the big day Saturday my friend-hope the weather holds!😃

        • Morning geoff. Looks like it will, I’m early turn but I’ll have the flags up outside the box and at home.
          Guns? Assume GPMG and .50s like other vessels.

          • Hi Daniele. I have a ceremonial size Union Jack and a replica of the Governor of Natal’s Flag-basically a UJ with the Arms of the Province in the centre-this pattern was pretty much standard throughout the Empire. Will try to send you guys some photos.
            Nice replacements for Echo and Enterprise.
            Did I ever tell you the story of how the Harbour police wanted to arrest us when HMS Echo visited Durban?🤔😂
            😂😂

          • Enjoy the big day tomorrow Daniele- I’ll be glued to the telly. An exciting day ahead!

          • Hi mate. Thanks! Although said in the radio CAS gives a 50 50 chance the fly past gets called off due to weather.

      • Can still recall when HMS Challenger started her service fine ship that .And now her type needed again ,what times 🤔

        • I remember being intrigued by her, but she wasn’t in service long and there seemed to be a bit of secrecy about her activities?!

  9. No issues from me, it’s painted grey but for all I care paint it like the fucking rainbow warrior, as long as it can do the job it’s been procured and equipped for! Another good example of a strategic and localised threat being identified, and the RN getting their shit in a sock, with the MOD and coming up with a (quick and effective) solution. Pats on the back required, not whinging and whining about irrelevant shite! Good job by all involved 👍

    • Morning Airborne-hope you are well. Agree the main kit in place is the most important thing but two points about the grey paint-uniformity for navy and navy affiliated looks good and secondly a Navy grey ship is far more likely to be taken seriously on the Seven Seas-no pirate in the Gulf for example is going to take on a ship that looks like a warship of sorts even if it is only lightly armed
      Cheers from Durban

      • Morning Geoff, totally agree mate, it’s about conformity and first impressions do count mate, it should be grey. My main focus was the continued nay saying by people in regard to the less important aspects of the purchase. Get this platform into service ASP and congratulate a quick and effective decision process! How’s Durban mate, loved my time there (Bloem) many years back while in the job, never actually managed to get back to SA since leaving. Maybe give the comrades marathon another go (may have to cheat this time 🏍️) 😂👍 cheers mate.

        • Hi AB

          Mate, I did not realise you were with the sadf para brigade. Assume you were at 1 para btn at Bloemfontein then? I have bad memories jumping out of that “ape cage” thing whilst doing para training when I was a pupil pilot in the SAAF in 1982!

          • Hi Klonkie was there for quite some time in 99, just before and during the time 44 went from a Brigade formation to being classed as a Regiment, on exchange from UK 5 AB Bde (as it was at that time)! Got my SA wings, using a CASA 212 and some free fall descents, using a variety of weird and wonderful aircraft mate. Did the comrades when there, going from Durban (uphill lol)!

            Going into the hangers doing static training and PLFs etc was like being back at Brize, exactly the same layout and techniques due to the training being taken directly for UK Airborne forces. Although there was an obvious cultural change since the early 90s as it was mostly a “white” organisation but when I was there it was mostly a “black” established Bn Group, but still with a white leadership. On a couple of lobs with these lads they would be singing while in stick order lol! Not going into the politics of the time but I do believe a few years prior it was agreed that all the anti Government organisations ANC and the “terrorist” groups got an amnesty and were able to join up in 44 as well (shooting happened it’s the PF unit if my memory serves me….mate, soz, waffling and swinging the lamp….great days mate great days 👍

          • fascinating stuff Airborne, what great experiences! Kudos on the comrade Bud, particularly going UPHILL, thanks for posting.

            Enjoy the big day tomorrow!

        • Haha Airborne- I’m sure you could handle another Comrades no problem. My furthest was a 53km Ultra Bergville to Ladysmith but I was better upper body-finished 30 Dusi canoe Marathons among others down the Umgeni to Durban 120 Kms. You should chat to Klonkie below. He had an amazing career in the SAAF.
          Cheers for now

          • Spot on mate good effort, endurance fit mate deffo, those bloody hard events you cracked out, well done!!!

          • Thanks Airborne, Turning 74 this month and reduced to Park Run and a few cycle races😁

          • An excellent achievement Geoff. The best I’ve managed is the Auckland half marathon on a few occasions! I’m still out running every night, (except Sundays), between 50 and 60 kms a week. I’ve done this routine for close to 31 year now. Knees shot to hell and back though. Thank god for Glucosamine.

            Enjoy the big day tomorrow – trust you have the bunting out and the chicken coronation sandwiches ready)

          • Hi Klonkie-a half Marathon is a great race and nice distance-well done. Boerewors and the new Double Malt Castle Lager is on the menu for tomorrow. Cheers Mate
            ps my knees are also shot-I can manage a shuffle but downhills hurt😆

      • Actually, I heard a story about a French frigate that was boarded by pirates in the Red Sea! It was dark, neverthless…

        The person who told me was on an RN ship in the area and they docked behind the French ship. The French were partying as they had watched in disbelief as the pirates fanned out behind them, close in and board over the flight deck. The French marines simply helped them on board and arrested them… I kid you not..!

        So colour doesn’t always make a difference it seems, never mind the bloddy big gun on the foredeck!

        Cheers CR

        • Haha CR! Bit like that video of a Robber in America walking in to…a GUN SHOP and holding up the three guys behind the counter!! He was dead in less than a minute.

          Cheers from Durbs

    • Agree.. who gives two shits what colour it is…not going to make one iota of difference on how it does the job..but it costs a bit more and take a bit more time to sort out if it’s repainted for no other reason than grey looks cool. The USN have various shades and don’t seem to mind.

  11. It was very wise of the MOD and RN to just pick up a nearly new off the shelf ship that was essentially purposefully designed to do exactly the Job the RN want to do with it monitoring of undersea infrastructure….after all its a job that’s been done for years by the companies that actually own the infrastructure so the Kt and expertise is already out there.

    Now the bit I’m wondering about is the expertise as the monitoring and upkeep of undersea infrastructure has essentially been a civilian role, will the RN and RFA be buying in that experience and knowhow or will they try and develop it themselves…to be honest this sort of specialist know how seems perfect for the RNR to start recruiting..as people in this industry are not going to move away from their very nice salaries..but may be willing to do it part time.

    • Monitoring is basically route survey work that the RN MCM force has been doing for decades. Basically high def sonar mapping to compare a previous survey of the sea bed against a new survey. Anything changed? A Box or drum next to a pipe or cable that wasn’t there last time? If so go have a look with an ROV.

      • fair, my thoughts were that the people who keep an eye on this stuff for failure and repair it would have a very good eye for what should be there and what normal looks likes..sometimes the best mix is old eyes and fresh eyes working together.

    • Yes, a RNR unit seems like a good idea. A RN version of the army LAIG, for example, which is composed of Telecoms, IT, and Cyber professionals, and a specialist unit recruited nationally rather than locally like most other AR.

  13. In the old days we used to say Fort Victoria was manned by 85 Officers and crew from the RFA Service and a small adittional team of 150 R.N personnel to service the 2 Phalanx CIWS guns.

  14. They can manage with the help of some very useful tech in the cockpit, but there will be limitations an dI suspect that the sea state limitations will be comewhat tighter on this ship compared to an escort because of the height increasing the accelerations on the flight deck.

    Cheers CR

  15. I pass cammel lairds most days, the ship is already painted in battleship grey. Hopefully this means she will be up and running soon

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here