River class Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Clyde entered Portsmouth Harbour for the first time in 12 years this morning.

Clyde is to be decommissioned at the end of 2019, at which time it will be sold to the Brazilian Navy.

The vessels only time off station has been maintenance periods in South Africa.

HMS Clyde entering Portsmouth Harbour for the first time in 12 years. The former Falkland Islands guardship will be soon decommissioned while @HMS_Forth takes her place in the South Atlantic! pic.twitter.com/YZQipwKwJZ — Dave Hartley (@dhartley_NMRN) December 20, 2019

Local media earlier reported that Rear Admiral Amaury Calheiros Boite confirmed that the Brazilian Navy had been in talks with the Royal Navy and BAE Systems to take over the lease of HMS Clyde when it expires at the end of 2019.

HMS Clyde is part of the Royal Navy’s Fishery Protection Squadron. The Offshore Patrol Vessel was designed and built by BAE Systems and is leased and operated by the Royal Navy, while the company provides maintenance and logistical support to the vessel.

HMS Clyde will be replaced by a new Batch 2 River class vessel, HMS Forth.