RFA Argus, the UK’s only hospital and amphibious support ship, remains grounded amid unresolved safety issues, leaving the Royal Navy with a major capability gap.
The Royal Navy is facing a significant capability shortfall as RFA Argus — its only vessel equipped to serve as a hospital ship and its sole active amphibious support ship — remains out of service due to extensive safety and maintenance problems.
The future of the 28,000-tonne support vessel is uncertain after ministers confirmed that no decision has been made on whether she will be repaired or retired. RFA Argus has been unable to sail since June 2025, when her safety certification was withdrawn following a failed inspection by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Lloyd’s surveyors.
The setback has left the Navy without a ship capable of supporting amphibious operations, with other Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels suitable for such missions also believed to be unavailable. Argus, which carries a fully equipped 100-bed medical facility, is the UK’s only vessel able to operate as a floating hospital in emergencies.
Responding to a parliamentary question, defense minister and Labor peer Lord Coaker said the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is working with Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S), surveyors and commercial partners “to assess the cost and value of effecting the required repairs.” Any refit would likely need to take place in Falmouth, Cornwall.
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The ship’s problems appear extensive. A Navy spokesperson said earlier this year that Argus would not depart Portsmouth naval base “until all identified defects have been rectified.” A source quoted in The Sun claimed there was “no way” the vessel would be cleared to sail even for repairs, adding that she was “riddled with problems.”
The situation is particularly troubling given Argus’ recent overhaul. The ship completed a five-month refit in the spring, only to be declared unfit to sail weeks later. Her enforced inactivity places extra pressure on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which provides global operational support to the Royal Navy and is staffed by civilian merchant sailors.
RFA Argus has a long service history, including deployment during the 1982 Falklands War. Her on-board medical complex includes an emergency department, operating theatres, resuscitation facilities and radiology services, designed to support both humanitarian missions and military operations.
As there is no immediate replacement available, the Navy is operating with a critical gap in both medical support at sea and amphibious capability. Defense officials are expected to make a decision on Argus’ fate once full repair assessments and cost analyses are completed.