RFA Proteus

Not to be confused with HMS Proteus.

RFA Proteus
Proteus at Cammell Laird
History
Marshall Islands
NameTopaz Tangaroa
OwnerP&O Maritime Logistics
Port of registryMajuro
BuilderVard Brattvaag, Norway and Tulcea shipyard in Romania.
Cost$62 million[2]
Yard number841
Launched18 March 2017[1]
FateSold to Ministry of Defence, 14 February 2023
United Kingdom
NameProteus
NamesakeProteus, a sea-god in Greek mythology
Sponsored byAkshata Murty[5]
Acquired14 February 2023
In service10 October 2023
HomeportFalmouth
Identification
StatusIn active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeVARD 3 08[6]
TypeMulti-role ocean surveillance ship
Tonnage
Displacement6,000 t (5,900 long tons)[3]
Length98.1 m (321 ft 10 in)[1]
Beam20.048 m (65 ft 9.3 in)[1]
Draught6.0 m (19 ft 8 in)[1]
Propulsion
  • 2 × Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines (2 × 2,250 kW, 3,020 hp)
  • 1 × Caterpillar 3512C diesel engine (1 × 1,700 kW, 2,300 hp)
  • 2 × Caterpillar C32 diesel engines (2 × 1,820 kW, 2,440 hp)
  • 2 × Kongsberg azimuth thrusters (2 × 1,650kW)
  • 1 × bow thruster (1 × 1,500 kW, 2,000 hp)[1]
SpeedMax 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)[7]
Complement82 as civil supply vessel;[7] 24 RFA and 60 RN personnel in RFA service[8]
Aviation facilitiesHelipad

RFA Proteus is a ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary within His Majesty's Naval Service of the United Kingdom. Its roles being a platform for Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROUVs)[9] and a testbed for new specialist capabilities, required for monitoring waters important to UK interests.[5] Acquired in 2023, the ship entered drydock at Cammell Laird for modification into a Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship (MROSS). She formally entered service in October 2023.[10]

The ship was formerly named MV Topaz Tangaroa in 2017–2022, and was used as a platform supply vessel operated by P&O Maritime Logistics.[3] The vessel was refitted after being sold to the U.K. Ministry of Defence in January 2023.

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 to act as a mothership for autonomous minehunters.[11]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "TOPAZ TANGAROA". DNV Vessel Register. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  2. ^ "P&O Maritime takes big profit by selling subsea ship to UK government". Tradewinds. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "First images of new Multi Role Ocean Support ship (MROS) renamed RFA Proteus". Navy Lookout. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  4. ^ "TOPAZ TANGAROA (9792539)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b "UK protection enhanced as underwater surveillance ship enters service". Royal Navy. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Topaz Tangaroa". Vard Group AS. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Topaz Tangaroa – IMO 9792539". Scheepvaartwest. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  8. ^ "RFA looks to Greek god Proteus to protect UK's underwater assets". Royal Navy. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Organisation, Units & Squadrons RFA Proteus (K60)". royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  10. ^ "A guide to RFA Proteus – the UK's new seabed warfare vessel". Navy Lookout. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  11. ^ "New mine-hunting support ship named". Royal Navy. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.