UK marine, defence and industrial group Inocea has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave class vessels Wave Knight and Wave Ruler.
They are said to be two of the most capable fast fleet tankers ever operated by a NATO navy, and have sustained British and allied naval forces worldwide for two decades.
Inocea Group said the two ships, described as “sovereign enablers of sustained and expeditionary maritime power,” have been maintained in extended readiness and remain “preserved in class” and in “excellent technical condition”.
The company said the two vessels, Wave Knight and Wave Ruler, will be reactivated to full operational readiness under class and flag-state requirements and operated by Inocea companies to support allied navies.
In its statement, the firm noted that the vessels were designed for high-tempo fleet operations and combine speed, endurance, aviation facilities and full replenishment-at-sea capability in a modern double-hulled platform.
Returning them to service, according to Inocea, meets the urgent need for rapidly deployable, world-class support for allied fleets.
“In an increasingly volatile threat environment with sustained pressure on allied naval forces, the rapid availability of these sovereign logistics platforms supports credible deterrence and extends operational reach. These fast fleet tankers are strategic enablers, extending the endurance, independence and expeditionary capability of naval task forces,” the statement of Inocea reads.
Inocea will leverage its experience in building, refitting, owning, operating and maintaining similar vessels, notably combat support ship Asterix which has served 21 NATO and allied forces in 536 operations since 2018.
