Royal Navy Removes HMS Protector as Project Shackleton Advances

Britain's Royal Navy has removed HMS Protector from service after the ice patrol vessel returned to Devonport under tow amid serious propulsion problems, leaving the country's polar operations facing a capability gap. On October 21, 2026, parliamentary information confirmed that Project Shackleton is examining procurement options and delivery timelines for a successor, although the government has not announced when a replacement will enter service.

According to the UK Defence Journal, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said funding for a replacement had been allocated through the Defence Investment Plan. The program is intended to preserve Britain's ability to operate in the Arctic and Antarctic and support activities around the British Antarctic Territory.

Pollard explained that the previous government's plan had not included a replacement vessel, despite expecting HMS Protector to remain in service into the late 2030s. The current government considered that approach unsustainable and commissioned further analysis through Project Shackleton.

"The previous Government’s plan was for HMS Protector to remain in service into the late 2030s and did not provide for a replacement vessel. We judged this approach to be unsustainable and therefore allocated funding within the Defence Investment Plan to deliver a successor capability. The Defence Investment Plan includes provision for the replacement of HMS Protector with a more modern vessel.

Through Project Shackleton, the Ministry of Defence is undertaking the necessary technical, commercial and delivery analysis to inform decisions on the preferred procurement approach and replacement timeline. Decisions will be taken once this work has concluded," said Luke Pollard, Minister of State for Defence.

The vessel returned to its home port on October 13 after an extended maintenance period on Teesside. The Telegraph reported that both main engines had failed, while the Royal Navy confirmed that investigations into a defect were underway. The precise cause of the problem and the ship's long-term technical condition have not been publicly established.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said the replacement would preserve the service's ice patrol capability.

"As part of the Defence Investment Plan, HMS Protector will be replaced with a more modern variant to maintain the ice patrol capability," said a Royal Navy spokesperson.

The spokesperson also indicated that the vessel's immediate future remained subject to a decision.

"She remains part of the fleet and any decisions of her immediate future will be made in due course," said the Royal Navy spokesperson.

Built in 2001 as the Norwegian civilian vessel MV Polarbjørn, HMS Protector entered Royal Navy service in 2011 under a charter arrangement before the Ministry of Defence purchased it in September 2013. The approximately 5,000-ton ship was designed for polar research and subsea support rather than originally being built as a naval vessel.

According to Forces News, the vessel supported Antarctic surveys, British Antarctic Survey activities and work connected with Britain's obligations under the Antarctic Treaty. Its equipment includes two cranes capable of lifting up to 60 tonnes of stores and equipment, survey systems, small workboats and inflatable motorboats.

HMS Protector also conducted missions beyond Antarctica. During 2015–2019, rotating crews helped keep it deployed for approximately 330 days annually. In November 2017, it joined the search for the Argentine submarine ARA San Juan. In June 2021, it reached 80°41.5′ North in the Greenland Sea, setting a Royal Navy record for the northernmost position reached by one of its surface ships.

The ship's service was interrupted by a propulsion defect in 2019, followed by a ten-month refit costing £14 million. It subsequently missed the 2020–2021 Antarctic season. After completing another extended docking period in 2025, it did not deploy to Antarctica for the 2025–2026 season.

The loss of the vessel raises concerns about Britain's ability to maintain a consistent naval presence in polar regions. The Telegraph highlighted the strategic importance of the Arctic and the South Atlantic, particularly amid heightened tensions involving Russia and renewed Argentine rhetoric concerning the Falkland Islands.

Project Shackleton must now establish the preferred procurement method and replacement schedule. The Ministry of Defence has committed funding to a successor, but officials have not confirmed a delivery date or whether an interim vessel will be needed while a new ship is developed or acquired.