HMS Severn bound for final visit to affiliated city prior to decommissioning

The Royal Navy’s second River-class patrol vessel HMS Severn is set to visit her affiliated city of Newport one last time before she decommissions by the end of October.

Severn will be berthed at Alexandra Docks with the ship’s crew exercising Freedom of the City, parading through the city centre with bands playing, flags flying and bayonets fixed.

The parade will take place on Saturday, October 14. The Newport City Council has invited the public to line the route of the parade to show their support for the crew of HMS Severn who have been affiliated to the city since 2003.

“We are sad HMS Severn which has patrolled the shores of the UK for many years is now being decommissioned,” councillor Debbie Wilcox, leader of Newport City Council.

HMS Severn was built by Vosper Thornycroft and entered service in July 2003. Her place in the fleet will be taken by the first of the Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels – HMS Forth. Severn’s sister ships HMS Mersey and HMS Clyde are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2019.