The Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), today received the patrol warship, “RBNS Al-Zubara”, from the British BAE Systems Company. The handover ceremony was held at the HMNB Portsmouth Naval Base in the UK, in the presence of the Bahraini Ambassador to the UK, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the Military Attaché at the Bahraini Embassy in London, Brigadier General Ahmed Mohammed Al-Ruwaie, the vessel’s crew and a representative of BAE Systems Company. The delivery of the RBNS Al-Zubara (ex-HMS Clyde River-Class offshore patrol vessel) to RBNF is a source of pride as it carries the name of a region that is dear to every Bahraini citizen.
The Royal Bahrain Naval Force (RBNF) has become one of the main pillars of the nation’s strength, due to the progress, development and integration of all its units and systems at various levels, thus embodying the sound visions of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, in this regard. With its modern combat warships, sophisticated administrative vessels and advanced transportation and training ships, in addition to the frigate RBNS Sabha, the RBNF revives Bahrain’s ancient rich maritime history.It was an integral part of the territories of the Kingdom of Bahrain as it was the Capital of the Al Khalifa state in the Qatar Peninsula and the islands of Bahrain.
HMS Clyde (pennant number P257) is a decommissioned offshore patrol vessel and is the tenth ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name. She was launched on 14 June 2006 in Portsmouth Naval Base by VT Group shipbuilders in Portsmouth, England, and is the fourth vessel of the River class, with a displacement of 2,000 tonnes and a 30 mm Oerlikon KCB gun in place of the 20 mm gun fitted to Tyne River-class ships. Clyde was decommissioned on the 20 December 2019 at HMNB Portsmouth and was returned to her owners at BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships, although the ship remained under lease from BAE Systems to the Royal Navy until the end of March 2020. In August 2020 Clyde was transferred to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
