[5] In 2015, the Russian Navy commissioned Yantar, a research vessel which has since been sighted in the vicinity of undersea cables with an alleged capability to tamper with them.
[11] While HMS Scott is reported as likely to be extended in service until 2033,[12] there remains a capability gap which the MROSS ships are expected to fill.
The review stated that a singular ship would be procured to help deliver a government commitment to protecting the UK's critical national infrastructure and help further its knowledge of the maritime environment.
[15] In October 2022, amid suspected Russian sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced that two MROSS ships would be procured.
[16] In November 2022, the Ministry of Defence announced that the programme would be accelerated using funds gained through the cancellation of the National Flagship, a vessel which was to be used by the monarch and government officials to promote UK interests abroad.
[17] Conversion work was carried out at Cammell Laird's facility in Birkenhead, England[18] and the vessel entered service in October 2023.
She has diesel-electric propulsion with powerful twin bow thrusters to "hold a precise stationary position when working over subsea installations".