Published 11 June 2025
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HMS Bristol, the only Type 82 in existence, has been sold for recycling by our ship recycling experts from our Defence Recycling & Disposals Team on behalf of the Royal Navy.
With a focus on sustainability, the DE&S team specialises in the responsible disposal of vehicles, vessels and equipment no longer needed by UK Armed Forces.
HMS Bristol was formally decommissioned in a ceremony 28 October 2020 after almost 48 years of active service. Having remained at Portsmouth Harbour since 2011, the team agreed her sale and she will now be taken to a specialist recycling facility within an EU-approved yard in Turkey.
DE&S works with the Royal Navy to ensure robust regulatory and legislative compliance of all tenders to deliver safe, ethical and responsible ship recycling. All reusable equipment from ships destined for recycling is removed before sale. The remaining critical materials can be recycled into other purposes.
Alistair Hughes, Head of DRDT, said: “Recycling of ships at the end of their hull life is routine business for the Royal Navy and our aim is to achieve maximum value for money for Defence in an environmentally compliant manner – HMS Bristol is a fitting example of this after her many dedicated years of service.”
Construction of HMS Bristol began in 1967 with the decision to make her a ‘one-off’ design. She Commissioned into the Royal Navy 31 March 1973. A varied career saw her inclusion in the 1982 Falklands War before being employed as a training ship in 1987 as a part of the Dartmouth Training Squadron.
HMS Bristol went on to be used as the harbour training ship, adjacent to Navy Command Headquarters on Whale Island, Portsmouth. She also provided accommodation for multiple youth organisations including the Sea Cadets, Combined Cadet Forces and the Sea Scouts. She was the first taste of life in the Senior Service for many current and former sailors and will be fondly remembered for her resolute presence when arriving in Portsmouth by land or sea.
HMS Bristol is the second decommissioned ship to be towed for recycling this calendar year, with HMS Monmouth having departed in April.
Find out more about what we do at DE&S.
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DE&S helps our armed forces protect the nation, our territories and our allies. Few other organisations have a higher collective purpose. It’s this purpose that drives our experts to deliver every day, making sure the soldiers, sailors and aviators serving our country have what they need to succeed.
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Our commitment extends beyond delivering world-class equipment and support to the UK Armed Forces; we are dedicated to supporting UK economic growth, driving exports, championing sustainability and creating social value across our operations and the contracts we place with industry.
