Royal Fleet auxilliary vessels on the Mersey

After a "lengthy" refit in Cammel Lairds RFA Tidespring emerged from the yard a few days ago and now sits berthed on the CLT at Liverpool pierhead, The remaining vessels of the "Birkenhead navy" still reside in the West Float dock, Birkenhead, RFA Fort Austin and RFA Fort Rosalie. RFA Fort Victoria remains at Cammel Lairds but has moved from dry dock to the wet basin which may indicate she will be leaving soon to start supporting the new QE class carriers for which she has undergone substantial upgrades.

RFA Tidespring

RFA Fort Rosalie

RFA Fort Rosalie

RFA Fort Austin

RFA Tidespring emerging from the rain

RFA Tidespring

RFA tidespring

Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels in Birkenhead 11th August 2018 AKA "Birkenhead Navy"

RFA Fort Rosalie A385 and RFA Fort Austin A386 currently reside in West float dock at Birkenhead, Austin has been here since her refit/service at Cammel Lairds last year with Rosalie arriving this year for a supposed 2 year "layup". This author has "heard" that Austin might be "re-activated" at some point in 2018!!

RFA Fort Victoria A387 is in Cammel Lairds having had a major refit that includes a double hull modification to allow her to supply both fuel and dry stores/ammunition to the new QE class carriers

RFA Wave Knight A389 is also in Lairds for a regular service/refit and her sister vessel RFA Wave Ruler A390 is in Royal Seaforth dock in Liverpool for some reason!!

RFA Fort Austin A386

RFA Fort Austin A386

RFA Fort Rosalie A385

RFA Fort Rosalie A385 arrives in Birkenhead docks

The Royal fleet auxiliary vessel Fort Rosalie joined her sister ship RFA Fort Austin in Birkenhead docks today!, rumoured to be now going into "layup"!! looks like the birkenhead navy is on the up!! All three fort class vessels are now on Merseyside with Fort Victoria currently undergoing refit/modifications in Cammel Lairds

RFA Fort Austin

RFA Fort Rosalie

RFA Fort Rosalie

RFA Fort Rosalie

Birkenhead docks visit 12th March 2016

A little quiet in the docks at the moment!, Arklow Raven came in today and the Chem tanker Stolt Kite arrived earlier in the week.

Also here are the RFA`s Black Rover, Diligence and Fort Austin...

RFA Black Rover

Stolt Kite

Arklow Raven

RFA Diligence

Arklow Raven

RFA Fort Austin

RFA Diligence

Stolt Kite

RFA Fort Austin

Stolt Kite and RFA Fort Austin

RFA Fort Austin Back into Birkenhead docks 25th Feb 2016

After a short service period in Cammel Lairds the RFA Fort Austin was towed into Birkenhead docks today. 4 Smit tugs were on the job as the vessel was "deadship". She is now berthed at the top of West float,

RFA Fort Austin

RFA Fort Austin

RFA Fort Austin

Smit Zeebrugge

Smit Waterloo and RFA Fort Austin in Alfred basin

RFA Fort Austin

RFA Fort Austin A386 on the move, Birkenhead 13th December 2015

RFA Fort Austin was moved from West float to Cammel Lairds today in far from ideal weather (for photos anyway), Smits tugs Zeebrugge, Waterloo and Sandon were on the job

Royal Fleet Auxilliary Fort Austin on the move 28th Sept

The RFA supply ship Fort Austin was moved from birkenhead docks to the Cammel Lairds shipyard on the River Mersey, the ship is here for a full service /refit prior to a return to service (probably next year)