- Visit is part of Defence Engagement in West African Ports, including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Senegal
RFA Lyme Bay, a UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel, has arrived in Premiere Port (Apapa Quays) Lagos, Nigeria, as part of a Defence Engagement programme across West African partner nations.
Lyme Bay is a Bay-class auxiliary dock landing ship (LSD(A)), with a full load displacement of 16 160 tons, and measures 176.6 metres in length, a beam of 26.4 metres and a draught of 5.8 metres.
Built in the UK, Lyme Bay entered service in late 2007 as the 4th and final Bay Class LSD(A) to join the RFA. With a top speed of 18 knots (33km/h), and a range of 8 000 nautical miles (15 000km), Lyme Bay can transport 356 Marines and has 1150 linear metres of vehicle space, allowing for the transport of up to 150 light vehicles or 24 Challenger 2 tanks.
According to a statement by Ndidiamaka Eze, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office/British Deputy High Commission, Lagos, “whilst in Nigeria, Lyme Bay, will conduct a variety of Defence Engagement activities including ship tours and the hosting of national dignitaries.
“Operationally, the ship will facilitate maritime capability training utilising embarked UK Royal Marines boarding and search teams to conduct drills and interoperability training with their Nigeria Navy counterparts.
“On completion of the visit, RFA Lyme Bay will participate in Exercise Grand African Nemo, a multinational maritime security exercise, involving Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and Nigerian Naval forces off the coast of Nigeria.”
The visit is part of the maritime co-operation agreed under the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership in February 2024 to work with Nigeria more on defence cooperation, policing, maritime security, among others.
The UK and Nigeria renewed its mutual Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) Dialogue in February 2024 and this builds on both nations’ historical ties and shared commitment to the broad principles of democratic governance, upholding human rights, international humanitarian law and rules of engagement around peace and security operations.
Speaking on the Ship’s arrival, the UK Deputy Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Commander Jonathan Howe said:“The UK is committed to improving regional maritime security, as well as increasing Nigeria’s ability to constrain security threats ranging from piracy, violent extremist organisations. This deployment demonstrates our pledge to work with the Nigeria Government to tackle shared international security challenges and help improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Lyme Bay’s Commanding Officer, Commander, Capt James Wingrove RFA, said:“It is a great privilege to bring RFA Lyme Bay alongside in Nigeria. The opportunity for my ships’ company and embarked forces to visit the region presents an exciting prospect whilst the ability to train alongside our Nigerian counterparts to hone skills, improve capability and demonstrate our interoperability is extremely valuable.”
The statement noted that “the UK is committed to the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, which is working with Nigeria more on defence cooperation, policing, maritime security, cyber security, multi-agency kidnap response, countering terrorism and violent extremism, all while ensuring a professional approach in line with human rights and legal frameworks.