WITH 25 years' service behind them, the Clovelly-class fleet tenders Hambledon and Lamlash pay off at Portsmouth, to be replaced by the catamaran craft flanking them, the Newhaven (to starboard) and the Nutbourne.

The two older vessels are among the last of a once-numerous class which until 1996 were operated by the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service. Operation of most of the fleet of black-and-buff auxiliaries is now in the hands of private contractors SERCO-Denholm.