The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has initiated a significant Fleet restoration effort following an overnight operation conducted from Sunday, 21 December 2025 at 2145 hours into the early morning of Monday, 22 December 2025.
Three RBDF vessels were loaded onto the MV Yacht Servant, a specialized heavy-lift ship, for transport to the Netherlands. These ships will undergo extensive refurbishment and restoration at the Damen Shipyards to extend their operational life-cycle, improving reliability, and restoring them to “optimal service condition” after years of deferred maintenance.
The three vessels involved are:
• HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna
• HMBS Rolly Gray
• HMBS Cascarilla
The transport and subsequent refit exercises represents a significant investment by The Bahamas Government as part of a broader $50 million overhaul of the RBDF Fleet scheduled over the next five to ten years. It also has an essential training opportunity for RBDF mechanics, technicians and electricians who will travel to observe the maintenance process and gain technical experience on-site at the shipyard.
The first of the vessels is anticipated to return to active duty in the second quarter of 2026, with the remaining two expected within a year.
In attendance for the operation were Minister of National Security, the Honourable Wayne Munroe, K.C., Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training, the Honourable Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister Jamal Strachan, along with Commander Defence Force, Commodore Floyd Moxey. Minister Munroe noted that the repairs were long overdue, highlighting that the vessels had operated well beyond their manufacturer’s expectations, underscoring the intense operational demands placed not only on RBDF personnel, but on the Fleet itself.
Commodore Moxey emphasized that the restoration of these vessels is critical to maintaining the RBDF’s mandate, stating that Fleet readiness and reliability are essential to safeguarding Bahamian waters and ensuring effective response to national and regional threats. He further noted that the restoration represents an investment in the sustainability of the Defence Force’s maritime operations.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force under Commodore Moxey’s leadership, is optimizing excellence by bridging generations and embracing modernization. As such, we remain committed to maintaining a mission-ready Fleet to Guard Our Heritage.
Photos By: Marine Seaman Nateo Rolle
