Undocking of HMS Middleton in Portsmouth

February 7, 2020 – HMS Middleton has returned to the water with the help of a hydraulic barge after spending six months ashore as part of her £7.5 million maintenance package.

She went into BAE Systems’ Ship Production Hall at HM Naval Base Portsmouth in July, with her Portsmouth-based crew helping integrate the upgrades and enhancements.

HMS Middleton is now preparing to return to the Fleet for her 37th year of service with improvements to her generators, hull and living quarters which include every bed space being fitted with electrical sockets and USB ports – a highly popular addition for improving life at sea for the crew.

Leading Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) Gary McKnight, 30, from Portsmouth, said: “Having the opportunity to work alongside our industry partners has been fascinating – particularly getting to see the ship out of the water.”

Whilst some members of Crew 8, the minehunter crew currently assigned to HMS Middleton, stayed with the ship others were assigned to active crews.

During their time apart, all have kept their essential seafaring and mine warfare skills honed with a tour of the Gulf ahead of them. The UK maintains a constant presence of four minehunters in the Gulf with crews rotating onto the vessels there.

Lt Cdr Christopher Hollingworth, Commanding Officer of HMS Middleton, said, “We are another step closer to taking HMS Middleton back to sea and rejoining the operational fleet for her fifth decade in Royal Navy service.