Royal Navy: Valiant HMS Trent to rest in Malta for maintenance after historic drug-busting escapades

HMS Trent has stopped off in Valetta, Malta, for engineers to work on the ship. She has spent nine months battling against drug smugglers operating in the Caribbean Sea.

Narcotics with a street value of nearly £750m was seized, with the patrol vessel becoming the first Royal Navy ship to intercept a narco-sub. The ship’s X account said on October 21: “We've arrived in Valletta, Malta. #TeamTrent will now undertake essential maintenance after an exceptionally busy year of counter-narcotics operations.

“Persistently forward deployed, the Royal Navy's Batch 2 OPVs are sustained on operations by the hard work of our embarked engineers and through the delivery of two contracted maintenance periods each year.”

HMS Trent completed eight drug busts in seven months, stopping nearly ten tonnes of cocaine from hitting the UK streets. Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, said: “The Royal Navy’s River-class patrol vessels have proved eminently suited to a wide range of tasking across the Caribbean and HMS Trent has delivered real challenge to narcotics smuggling in the region.

“The truly exceptional output delivered by my team over the past few months will be seamlessly maintained as we pass the baton to HMS Medway for the delivery of UK support to our overseas territories and regional partners.”