VT (Vosper Thornycroft) Shipbuilding has handed over HMS Severn, the second of the Southampton built River Class offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Navy, in a ceremony at Portsmouth.

HMS Severn will follow the first-of-class HMS Tyne, also constructed at the Woolston yard, into the Fishery Protection Squadron later this year after a period of sea trials and crew training.

The 80-metre vessel is one of three that will replace the current Island Class ships, which carry out duties around the coast of the UK.

HMS Mersey, the final vessel in the class, was launched in Southampton earlier this month and will be handed over by VT later this year.

The Ministry of Defence has acquired the ships on a long-term charter agreement that will see the vessels initially leased from VT for a period of five years.

At the end of that time, the lease can be extended, the ships can be purchased outright or handed back to VT.