HMS Medway begins Caribbean mission after HMS Trent’s historic deployment

The Portsmouth-based ship replaces sister River-class vessel HMS Trent after an enormously successful nine months in which she seized drugs worth nearly £750m and intercepted the first narco-sub carrying cocaine by the Royal Navy.

Medway has spent much of this year in maintenance following an intensive nine-month stint patrolling the Falkland Islands in 2023, undergoing upgrades and repairs in Gibraltar and Portsmouth. 

But she will now be on the front-line of the international fight against drugs smugglers and assisting communities should they be ravaged by storms during hurricane season – which blights the region from June to November.

Commanding Officer, Commander James Tibbitts, said: “After an extended period away, every member of HMS Medway's ship's company is excited to be back as the Caribbean guard ship.

"HMS Medway is ready to offer assistance and support to British Overseas Territories in the region, as well as help counter the trafficking of narcotics. We thank our sister ship HMS Trent for the exceptional job she’s done, and look forward to working with our regional partners as we take up the mantle."


HMS Trent departs the Caribbean after eight drugs busts in seven months, stopping nearly ten tonnes of cocaine reaching the streets of the UK – or anywhere else.

These successful interceptions disrupt Transnational Criminal Organisations (TCO), and underscore the Royal Navy’s vital role in maintaining maritime security and upholding international law both at home and abroad.

This role is more important than ever with the flow of drugs to Europe and the UK, where an estimated 117 tonnes is consumed per year, growing significantly.

Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, said: “The Royal Navy’s River-class patrol vessels have proved eminently suited to a wide range of tasking across the Caribbean and HMS Trent has delivered real challenge to narcotics smuggling in the region. 

“The truly exceptional output delivered by my team over the past few months will be seamlessly maintained as we pass the baton to HMS Medway for the delivery of UK support to our overseas territories and regional partners.”

The two ships met in the Caribbean to formally hand over responsibility.

HMS Trent now heads to Malta for a period of maintenance via Gibraltar.