HMS Daring will not be seen in Bailiwick waters this year

But the Guernsey-affiliated vessel is not expected to return to operational service until next year.

The Type 45 destroyer was the Royal Navy’s most advanced warship when it entered service in 2009 and has been affiliated to the Bailiwick since then, with Guernsey dignitaries attending the commissioning.

It has visited Guernsey on several occasions since. But while ship’s officers have attended local events – such as Daring’s senior naval officer Lt-Commander Andy Davies attending last November’s Remembrance Sunday – the ship has not visited the island since 2016.

The vessel was laid up for three years in Portsmouth, until a refit started in 2020.

In 2021 she sailed up to Birkenhead for further work, which has now completed, a Royal Navy spokesman confirmed.

‘HMS Daring is now in His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, following installation of the ship’s power and propulsion system at Cammell Laird’s shipyard in Birkenhead,’ he said.

‘Completion of this installation work represents a key milestone in delivering the Type 45 Power Improvement Project.’

The Power Improvement Project saw two existing generators replaced with three larger units capable of delivering the ship’s propulsion, in a bid to make it more resilient.

All the Type 45 ships are undergoing the work.

HMS Daring is not ready to go back to sea yet.

‘Stage Two of Daring’s planned upkeep programme has commenced, this programme will include setting to work and commissioning the new PIP system,’ the spokesman said.

‘On current plans, HMS Daring will return to operational service in late 2024, therefore, it will not be possible for the ship to visit Guernsey this year.’

The destroyer has undertaken deployments in the Persian Gulf, Caribbean and Pacific.

The 152-metre long ship has a complement of 190 sailors.