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Red Rose turns green – veteran frigate HMS Lancaster commended for environmental efforts
10 July 2025
The Royal Navy’s ‘Gulf guardians’ have been singled out for their protective efforts.
No, were not talking about the day-to-day business of safeguarding shipping which is taken as read, but an extra effort crew of HMS Lancaster have embraced over the past year to receive an operational accolade at the Royal Navy’s 2025 Climate Change and Sustainability Conference.
Based in Portsmouth, but deployed on a long-term mission to Bahrain to keep the sea lanes in the Middle East open and safe, the wide-ranging deployment has also focused their minds on environmental issues.
They face temperatures as high as 55 Celsius (the sea ‘only’ gets up to about 33C), as well as the monsoon season and encounters with rare bird and wildlife as their ship patrols a vast area extending as far south as the Seychelles.
The ship is run by two crews (port and starboard) for four months at a time, with both making a conscious effort to be green with everyday life aboard the veteran frigate and by getting stuck into environmental projects when the warship visits ports in the Gulf/Indian Ocean region.
Among the efforts made by the 200 sailors and Royal Marines in HMS Lancaster are:
• Environmental reps in all messes/departments;
• A waste separation initiative run throughout the ship;
• Ban on the use of plastic string in the laundry;
• A plastic waste compactor which means plastics can be dealt with onboard rather than ending up in landfill ashore;
• A dramatic cut in paper using (more than half the logs, books and documentation aboard is digitised);
• Paperless comms used to contact with families where possible;
• Beach cleans conducted in Oman, Kenya and the Seychelles;
• Worked with ‘Parley for the Oceans’ in the Seychelles, promoting sustainable clothing made from recycled plastic bottles.
The Royal Navy is committed to minimising our contribution to climate change, and to maximising our environmental sustainability
“It has been great to see so many of the ship’s company get involved in our sustainability efforts over the past year,” said Officer of the Watch Lieutenant Oliver Kenzie.
“The beach cleans in particular in Kenya and the Seychelles, provided opportunities for the crew to learn and soak in the natural beauty and diversity of those nations we provide support to.”
The crew’s concerted efforts in the Seychelles especially received praise from British High Commissioner Jeffrey Glekin who said Lancaster’s sailors “built bridges of trust and respect to conserve and allow to flourish natural beauty”.
HMS Lancaster’s Executive Officer Lt Cdr Grahame Flint has been impressed by what the ship has achieved – and it’s largely down to shipmates’ commitment and willingness to embrace change for the sake of the planet.
“The Royal Navy is committed to minimising our contribution to climate change, and to maximising our environmental sustainability,” he said.
“Whilst difficult to achieve in a 35-year-old warship, first conceived in the 1970s, both of the ship’s crews have risen to the challenge commendably, and shown that we can all be environmental, as well as military, ambassadors.”