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Fleet auxiliary leaving Portsmouth
The RFA 'Argus', operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, was due to leave HMNB Portsmouth and be decommissioned. She was originally due to be towed to Falmouth last week, but this was delayed due to poor weather conditions. The shp was due to leave the Victory Jetty and pass The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth on March 3, 2026, at 4.45 p.m., being towed by tugs 'Tempest', 'Bountiful', 'Englishman', 'En Avant 26' and 'En Avnat 30'. She was the last active ship to have served in the Falklands conflict. The vessel has not been operational since July 2025. The safety certification was withdrawn after she was deemed to be unsafe to sail, following safety inspections from Lloyds Register and the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA). She has been stuck alongside HMNB Portsmouth since, with discussions being held in government as to whether to scrap the ship. There was also talk of bringing the ship back into service. This failed to materialise, with the vessel falling into disrepair.
Navy confirmed scrapping plan for ageing RFA
The RFA 'Argus' has ended her career after an incident in which she was declared unsafe. The Royal Navy had confirmed plans to tow her away from Portsmouth for the final time on Feb 23, but it was delayed by bad weather and was now likely to take place next week. On Feb 22 the tugs 'En Avant 29' and 'En Avant 30' were already alongside the 'Argus' ready for the tow to Falmouth. The ship had been built in Italy as a Ro/Ro containership in 1981. In 1982 it was requisitione for the Falklands war. Instead of returning to commercial service,, she was acquired by Harland & Wolff and began a full-time conversion into a naval support ship for the Royal Navy, entering service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) in 1988, During her career, she served in the Gulf War in 1991 and the Iraq War in 2003 and became a Primary Casualty Receiving Ship. She provided medical support and was used for humanitarian missions. The RFA had slated the vessel for retirement in 2024, but as the Royal Navy worked to adjust to decreasing funds and a lack of new ships, the plans were revised in 2022 with the intention of the ship remaining active until at least 2030. As part of the life extension, she was ordered for a refit in late 2024 at A&P Falmouth. A lack of funding left several key issues to be addressed at a later date. She left the yard in March 2025 and by June was laid up with problems with her fire doors, leaks in the shafts, and concerns with the ballast tanks.The condition issues were deemed so serious that the safety certificates were withdrawn, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Lloyd’s Register deemed the ship unsafe to sail under power, even ruling out a trip to Falmouth and the shipyard. Since June 2025, the 'argus' has been waiting at the dock in Portsmouth for a final decision on her fate. Photos: https://x.com/AWenham1/status/2025874295260332354
Future of RFA remains in balance
The future of the RFA 'Argus' remained in the balance as the Ministry of Defence assessed whether or not to repair or scrap the oldest ship in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The vessel has been out of service at a lay-by berth in Portsmouth dockyard since June 8, with mechanical problems resulting in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Lloyd’s Register withdrawing safety certification preventing her from sailing to Falmouth for repairs. The RFA continued to work alongside Defence Equipment and Support surveyors and commercial partners to assess the cost and value of effecting the required repairs.
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