Protug-87 Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On June 11, 2023, the historic naval vessel 'Protug 87' set sail from Portsmouth, UK, towing the notable destroyer HMS 'Bristol' (IMO: 4907828) towards Aliaga, with an estimated time of arrival on July 2. HMS Bristol, the sole surviving Type 82 destroyer, has a storied legacy spanning nearly 48 years of service. After its decommissioning in October 2020, the ship is now bound for an EU-approved recycling facility. As HMS Bristol departed the harbor, an admiring crowd of veterans and members of the public gathered to bid a heartfelt farewell to the iconic ship. The construction of HMS Bristol commenced in 1967, and it was officially commissioned into the Royal Navy on March 31, 1973. Renowned for its participation in the 1982 Falklands War, the vessel later transformed into a training ship for the Dartmouth Training Squadron from 1987 onward. Since 2011, HMS Bristol has rested near the Navy Command Headquarters on Whale Island in Portsmouth, serving as a home for various youth organizations, including the Sea Cadets, Combined Cadet Forces, and Sea Scouts. The Royal Navy sold the ship through experts from the DRDT, marking it as the second decommissioned vessel to be towed for recycling in 2023, following the departure of HMS 'Monmouth' in April. For further details and photos, visit the reports at Let's Recycle and Portsmouth News.

In a significant maritime operation, the decommissioned HMS Bristol has been towed to the Aliaga Breakers in Turkey for dismantling. This vessel, once part of the Royal Navy's fleet, is now set to enter the next phase of its life cycle at the recycling yard. The towing journey marks the end of an era, as the HMS Bristol served proudly for decades. For more visuals of this important operation, please visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1285921803533252&set=pcb.1285922276866538.