Royal Navy begins operating new officer training boats

The Royal Navy has begun operating its newest fleet of eight training boats at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.

The 15-metre, waterjet-equipped craft were built by Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) to replace the college’s flotilla of eight “picket” boats that have been in service since the 1960s.

The new vessels can reach speeds of 40 knots and are designed primarily for inland sailings, though they can operate further out into the English Channel if required. Each boat can train up to 16 officer cadets at a time and accommodation spaces include berths, heads, and a shower.

As part of their training, cadets will live and work on the new craft for up to a week.