Final Wearside visit for HMS Ocean

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Thursday 6 July 2017 The mighty amphibious assault ship and the fleet flagship of the Royal Navy, HMS Ocean, made for an impressive view as the 21,500 ton vessel glided past Roker Lighthouse at the mouth of the River Wear.

What a sight! HMS Ocean alongside Roker Pier and Lighthouse as she makes her way stern first (she’s too big to turn around in the Port of Sunderland) into the River Wear…

It’s not the first visit on Wearside for the helicopter carrier, but it will be the last for the city’s very own adopted warship. Sadly, on 24 November 2015, the MoD confirmed that HMS Ocean was to be decommissioned in 2018 as part of cost saving measures.

Easy does it – a total of four tugboats were needed to ensure HMS Ocean’s safe passage into the River Wear…
All hands on deck – HMS Ocean’s sailors line up on deck as the vessel arrives into the Wear…
Almost there – three tugboats gently push HMS Ocean up alongside Corporation Quay, where she will be moored for the next few days…
HMS Ocean in the Port of Sunderland at Corporation Quay…