Retired RFA Wave Knight towed away from Portsmouth in glorious sunshine as she begins new lease of life
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
She is one of two ships that are set to be transformed after being retired two years ago
A naval ship has been towed out of Portsmouth ahead of being given a new lease of life.
RFA Wave Knight was brought out of HMNB Portsmouth in the glorious sunshine this afternoon (May 27). Clusters of photographers gathered on The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth at 2.45pm to take snaps of the ship.
The Hotwalls were packed with sunseekers making the most of the scorching weather. Jet skiers were performing donuts close to the Wave-class tanker as she was towed past the beach by four tug boats.
After being alongside HMNB Portsmouth for several months, RFA Wave Knight is being brought to Merseyside ahead of being reactivated and returned to operational service. She and her sister ship, RFA Wave Ruler, were bought by the Inocea Group earlier this year.
The British international marine and defence technology company purchased the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tankers from the Ministry of Defence earlier this year after they were decommissioned in November 2024.
Co-owner Alex Vicefield previously said: “Wave Knight and Wave Ruler are exceptional ships. They have a long life ahead of them supporting critical naval missions worldwide. Their availability is fortuitous and Inocea will leverage its proven capability to address the growing global strain on naval manpower and force structures.
“Our goal is simple: ensure these exceptional ships can, for decades to come, support allied fleets, extend operational reach, and strengthen allied maritime readiness."
While a part of the RFA, Wave Knight was tasked with furnishing Royal Navy ships with critical supplies. These could range from fuel and food to fresh water, ammunition, and mechanical parts.
She was originally launched in 2000 and has been deployed across the globe. This included fending off pirate attacks in the Gulf in 2009, anti-narcotics and disaster relief operations in the Caribbean in 2013, and various replenishment at sea drills for warships in the Middle East, Baltic, and elsewhere.
RFA Wave Knight was placed on extended readiness in 2022, effectively distinguishing her as an un-crewed reserve. Navy Lookout reported in 2023 that the careers of both Wave-class tankers were over due to manpower shortages.
Then minister of state for defence James Cartlidge, Conservative, said the pair would be placed on extended readiness until 2028, with the possibility of reactivating them.
Under the new Labour government, defence secretary John Healey said the vessels would be retired as they had ”not been to sea for years”. Alongside the retirements of HMS Northumberland, HMS Bulwark, HMS Albion, 46 watchkeeper Mk1 drones, 14 Chinook helicopters, and 17 Puma aircraft, he said this would save the taxpayer up to £500m over the next five years.
The Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 said both ships had an asset value of £58m. The sale price for RFA Wave Knight and Wave Ruler has not been disclosed.
Inocea Group said the ships were “preserved in class and are in excellent technical condition”. Co-owner James Davies previously said: “With this acquisition, Inocea continues its focus on providing strategically important naval capability through unique service models, ensuring these much-needed assets remain active contributors to allied security."