HMS Forth arrives at Scotstoun shipyard. Credit: BAE Systems.

The British Royal Navy has concluded the formal acceptance of its first River-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), HMS Forth, at the Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow.

The 90m-long navy vessel was delivered by BAE Systems and is set to remain at the shipyard to complete various additional works, which were requested by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

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HMS Forth is expected to be commissioned into the Royal Navy fleet later this year at its home port, Portsmouth Naval Base.

UK Defence Procurement Minister Guto Bebb said: “Thanks to the hard work of the Clyde shipyards, HMS Forth is now ready to join the Royal Navy surface fleet and begin the vital task of defending the UK and her interests around the world.”

"HMS Forth is now ready to join the Royal Navy surface fleet and begin the vital task of defending the UK and her interests around the world."

The ship successfully completed its maiden sea trials in December last year.

The OPV will be capable of carrying out counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and other maritime defence operations once commissioned.

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HMS Forth is one of the five new OPVs being delivered to the Royal Navy, alongside its sister ships HMS Medway, HMS Trent, HMS Tamar and HMS Spey.

The remaining four vessels are expected to enter service by 2020.

All five vessels will feature a displacement of approximately 2,000t and a 30mm cannon, as well as a flight deck capable of accommodating a Merlin helicopter.

The ships will also have a maximum speed of 24k and will be able to sail 5,500 nautical miles (nmi) before requiring a resupply.

In addition, BAE Systems has begun production on the second hull section of the first City-class frigate, HMS Glasgow, as part of the navy’s current Type 26 Frigate programme.

The company has also signed a new £5.6m contract to set up a new electrical testing facility in Leicestershire in support of the Type 26 vessels.