Leavesley News

Canada Dock now home to RFA Grey Rover

RFA Grey Rover (of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary) was towed into Canada Dock on Sunday 18th October 2009, Where work will start shortly to re-cycle the ship by Leavesley International.

With a maximum speed of 19 knots, this small fleet tanker is fitted with a flight deck but no hanger, as such she was only capable of refueling embarked helicopters.

The "Rover" boats have been work horses of the RFA over the last few decades.

Due to them being a "single" hulled vessels the Rover Class ships will be phased out over the next few years.

Notable Dates:

September 1970

RFA Grey Rover replaced RFA Black Ranger as a FOST (Flag Officer Sea Training) tanker.

1973

While serving as the Clyde Port Oiler she was struck below the water line by the Canadian Submarine "Okanagan" while submerged.

June 1976

Saw her standing by to evacuate British Nationals from the Lebanon.

December 1978

During her passage from Karachi to the Seychelles, RFA Grey Rover was ordered to loiter off Iran after civilian unrest with the possibility of the evacuation of British Nationals.

November 1983

RFA Grey Rover was back in the Lebanon during "Operation Offcut", the naval support for British troops in the multinational force in the Lebanon.

September 1984

Saw a team from RFA Grey Rover fire fighting on the motor yacht Yankee Clipper in Freeport in the Bahamas

2004

While in the far east RFA Grey Rover conducted the first ever RAS for the Singapore Navy. After her final tour down the South Atlantic she sailed for the Caribbean where RFA Grey Rover was part of the biggest drugs bust in recent times, with a haul of approximately £350 million of cocaine.

15th march 2006

RFA Grey Rover sailed into Portsmouth flying the hoist flag TA60 "Duty Complete".

18th October 2009

And finally she was towed into Canada Dock Liverpool by the tug "Braveheart" where she will be re-cycled.