Third River-class OPV officially named

Trent, the third of five River-class offshore patrol vessels (OPV) being built for the Royal Navy, has been named.

The naming ceremony took place in Govan, Glasgow on March 13, BAE Systems Maritime informed.

Trent is now set to 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.

‘This is another landmark moment for the River Class OPV Programme and an important day that honours the traditions of the RoyalNavy” Iain Stevenson, BAE Systems Naval Ships managing director, commented.

Trent is expected to take part in counter-terrorism, combating piracy, halting smuggling and defending UK waters. The River-class OPV is the sixth Royal Navy vessel to bear the name.

The five ships in the are called Forth, Medway, Trent, Tamar and Spey. They are being built at BAE Systems’ Clyde shipyards as part of a £348 million contract.

HMS Forth, the first of five vessels from the batch, joined the navy in January this year. Medway, the second of class, was named in October 2017.