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Ready for a fresh adventure(r) - semi-traditional send-off for new frigate’s senior officer
18 July 2025
ROW, row, row your boat gently onshore…
Or rather push. After two years and three months overseeing the construction of HMS Venturer and laying the foundations for her successful operation, the new frigate’s Senior Naval Officer Commander Chris Cozens bade a (semi) traditional farewell to shipmates.
It is naval custom (going all the way back to the 10th Century, apparently) to row a departing captain/commanding officer ashore, his sailors at the oars.
Which is a bit tricky as Venturer is out of the water in Babcock’s Rosyth yard, where she’s undergoing fitting out following her launch/float off last month.
Plan B then. Borrow a Sea Cadet yacht and push the boss out of the gate of nearby HMS Caledonia (which serves as home to those of Venturer’s ship’s company who don’t live in the Edinburgh/Dunfermline area).
Cdr Chris was the first member of Venturer’s crew to join and has at least been to sea in her – he was aboard for the short voyage under tow from Leith to Rosyth.
“Over the past couple of years I have seen the ship and ship’s company grow into being,” the outgoing Senior Naval Officer said. “The Type 31 Frigate is a unique next-generation ship with the potential to be potent and something sailors want to serve in.”
The float-off and sail back to Rosyth was a highlight, but it was working with inspirational sailors, engineers, industrial staff and affiliates that made this role unforgettable
Although it will be some time before the Royal Navy gets its hands on Venturer and her four sisters in the Inspiration class, the work done by Cdr Chris and his team in conjunction with the ship’s designers/builders has already modernised routines and devised labour-saving processes will give back capacity to the crew to enable the highest availability and enjoyment.
“I will continue to watch the ship and class’s progress with interest and wish the enterprise best wishes for successful entry to service.”
Cdr Chris moves on to help shape Defence Reform, and will be superseded by Cdr Thomas Hetherington who brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as the chief engineer in the Type 31 Class Cell.