A greener and leaner St Albans rejoins the Fleet

During the docking period the Type 23 frigate received some significant upgrades including an improved air conditioning system for the crew.

The Royal Navy's Type 23 class of frigate was originally designed to operate in the North West approaches in the depths of winter and are now more commonly deployed to the significantly higher temperatures of the Gulf regions on maritime security duties. Personnel on board will welcome the new air conditioning and vent upgrade which has increased the capacity of the system and will allow the ship to be kept cool when operating in extremely hot areas.

HMS St Albans' new sonar system increases the ship's ability to detect submarines, while the addition of an automatically controlled 30mm gun, boasting an electro optic device with a TV and Infra red camera which can be fired from the bridge or operations room, will boost the frigate's defence against any hostile fast-moving surface vessels encountered whilst operating close to the shore. The advanced targetting system allows the gun's accurate use day or night and in severe weather.

Changes to the ship's stern have vastly improved the flow of water over the hull and increased the ship's fuel efficiency at lower speeds. Together with other engineering modifications, these changes have increased the frigate's top speed.

HMS St Albans's Commanding Officer, Commander Adrian Pierce, said:

"This is an excellent start, to return to Portsmouth and achieve acceptance back into the Fleet after a successful Inspection.

"We have a much improved and modernised ship, well fitted out for the tasks ahead. I am looking forward to bringing together the ship's company as a team, becoming experts on the new equipment and deploying successfully to meet the UK's Maritime Security requirements."

The docking period was carried out by Babcock Ltd operating closely with the ship's company and members of the DE&S organisation in Rosyth.

Commodore of the Portsmouth Flotilla, Andrew Cameron, who was the Fleet's inspecting officer, said:

"The ship was very well presented and we are pleased with the condition that the ship has been handed back to the Fleet from refit ... We welcome her back into the Fleet."

Now that the Portsmouth-based warship has rejoined the Fleet, it will undergo operational sea training in the South West approaches of the UK in the autumn. This demanding period will prepare the ship's personnel to train as a cohesive team facing a variety of challenging warfare and humanitarian scenarios prior to deploying in 2009.