Another Royal Navy ghost ship and another sad farewell for the former HMS Iron Duke that made its way out of the Sound this morning and was towed by Serco Group tugs.
The Type 23 frigate was spotted on our live webcams leaving the Hoe foreshore, and the images of the vessel mark the end of its active service and relationship with its homeport of Plymouth.
Contractors could be seen on board the ship, which is being towed by a large tug, EN AVANT 10, and the destination is Portsmouth, where the vessel will be eventually scrapped.
Only five days ago, the former HMS Richmond made the same journey and the same sad ritual out of the Sound.
The Iron Duke returned to Royal Navy operations in May 2023, after a significant £103 million was spent refitting the ship at Devonport and was last seen at sea in October 2025.
A decision was made to withdraw the frigate from the government, and it was decommissioned in 2026.
The Iron Duke was built on the 6th of April, 1993, with an illustrious service to the nation and the crews that served on the ship.
A decision to withdraw the vessel raised concerns about the Royal Navy having only 5 active frigates and the nation’s ability to sustain a shrinking surface fleet.
