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New frigate HMS Venturer makes impressive debut as she sails under iconic Forth bridges
15 June 2025
The Royal Navy’s newest warship took to the water for the first time this weekend after a meticulous operation in full view of the Scottish capital.
HMS Venturer – the first of five Type 31 frigates which will patrol the oceans into the second half of the 21st Century – was towed beneath the three iconic Forth Crossings on Saturday evening to complete her construction in Rosyth.
Some of her crew plus shipwrights and engineers from Babcock International Group, who have worked on the ship since the first steel was cut in September 2021, were on board for the 11-mile journey up the estuary.
HMS Venturer emerged from the assembly hall named after her at the end of last month, carefully inched out on a gigantic low-loader, and then on to a special partly-submersible barge.
Since then, experts at Babcock have been waiting for a suitable tidal window in the Forth estuary to allow the ship to be precisely floated off.
That operation began on Monday, when the barge supporting the warship left Rosyth and sailed to waters deep – and sheltered – enough for the delicate manoeuvre off Leith.
Members of the new ship’s crew worked side-by-side with Babcock staff to ensure HMS Venturer successfully lifted off the barge safely as the waters of the Forth lapped around her hull.
Once tugs were attached the frigate was towed back up river on her ‘maiden voyage’ with Venturer’s Senior Naval Officer, Commander Chris Cozens, on board – one of his final acts before he moves on for new pastures shortly.
“Getting Venturer’s feet wet is not just a show piece, it is the culmination of the structural stage of build before the rest of the fit out and commissioning completes,” he said.
“It has been impressive to see the pride and teamwork in the industrial staff, MOD and Royal Navy. There is a single aim to make Type 31 the best it can be and fit to be a Next Generation Frigate, delivering maritime security and humanitarian disaster relief around the world.”
Getting Venturer’s feet wet is not just a show piece, it is the culmination of the structural stage of build before the rest of the fit out and commissioning completes
Once back at Rosyth, Venturer was carefully manoeuvred into an inner base in the dockyard to allow Babcock and contractors to complete fitting out the frigate and begin commissioning her many systems and sensors as the vessel is prepared for her first sea trials.
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Marine Sector, said: “In a complex and uncertain world, our ability to design, build and support advanced warships in the UK is more important than ever.
“HMS Venturer's first entry into the water is a clear demonstration of UK sovereign capability in action and the depth, resilience and expertise within Babcock's Marine business. This latest milestone exhibits the excellent progress being made across our multi-build programme, which will see us deliver five complex warships for the Royal Navy within a decade.
“This is engineering at its best, delivered, together with our partners, with pride, purpose and precision. HMS Venturer is just the beginning.”
Crew were on board the 139-metre warship constantly inspecting compartments to ensure all was well, among them Leading Writer Andy Fleming, who typically looks after his shipmates’ admin.
“My grandfather used to work at Harland and Wolff, so being involved with Venturer’s first move into the Forth is a proud moment for me,” he said.
Lieutenant Dai Guthrie, the frigate’s Deputy Marine Engineer Officer, was delighted to be involved at “such an historic moment as Venturer entered the water for the first time”.
He continued: “The operation has been an embodiment of the team ethos that has been ingrained in the build process thus far and a symbol of the progress that’s being made to bring a frigate at the cutting edge of naval technology into service.”
Operating from Portsmouth, HMS Venturer and her four sisters will conduct a variety of duties from thwarting drug smuggling activities to conducting board and search security operations and providing disaster relief.
Pictures courtesy of Peter Devlin and Tim Edgeler/Babcock International