SD Northern River can embark the NATO Submarine Rescue System.

[3] In late 2024, Northern River reportedly replaced RFA Stirling Castle as command ship for mine countermeasures autonomous systems when the latter vessel was laid up for repair and inactive due to a serious manpower shortage in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

[4] In September 2024, Northern River was photographed carrying RNMB Apollo, a Royal Navy autonomous minehunting vessel equipped with Towed Synthetic Aperture Modular Sonar.

[5][6] In the latter part of 2024, Northern River went into dry dock for 21 days of maintenance and hull certification work.

This article about a specific naval auxiliary ship or boat of the United Kingdom is a stub.