FIFTEEN years after she last sailed under her own steam Falklands veteran HMS Intrepid will finally be broken up – or in modern ‘green’ parlance ‘recycled retirement’.

The assault ship has been moored alongside her sister Fearless in Portsmouth Harbour since the duo were paid off, although Intrepid spent the last decade of her life laid up in the naval base in reserve.

A decade earlier she played a key role in the liberation of the Falklands during the landings at San Carlos – the high point in a career which spanned four decades.

The end for the sisters came with the arrival of the HMS Albion and Bulwark, much more potent assault ships, but Intrepid and Fearless continue to possess an irresistible charm (and firm following) as the last steam ships in the surface fleet.

Leavesley International, the firm preferred by Whitehall to carry out the breaking up – most probably in the UK – hopes to sell a limited number of ‘souvenir’ items from Fearless.

It hopes to sell off other material, equipment and components from the ship for re-use, and recycle much of her steel.

Whitehall laid down strict criteria for firms bidding to dismantle the assault ship in an ‘environmentally-friendly’ manner

“Intrepid played a key role in the Falklands 25 years ago but all Royal Navy ships eventually reach the end of their working lives,” said Portsmouth Naval Base Commander Cdre David Steel.

No date has been set for the dismantling operation to begin; Leavesley must first obtain the necessary licences and approvals from authorities before the MOD can place a contract with it.

In recent years many RN ships have been sent overseas for breaking up, but defence minister Lord Drayson said the process of “uncontrolled, unregulated recycling of Royal Navy vessels in other parts of the world” had come to an end.

“The MOD is determined to act responsibly when it comes to the disposal of former RN vessels. Only responsible companies which will act within all UK and EU laws and environmental regulations will be considered,” he added.