Stena 4-Runner Class

Along with Sea Crusader, RFA Sea Centurion is the Navy's major contribution to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF). She has 2715 lane metres of vehicle space available on three cargo decks, linked by internal ramps.

Sea Centurion was the first of a new class of four Roll-on / Roll-off vessels built by Stena in Italy. Under original plans, the first ship of the class would have gone to a Turkish company and the second two units to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, where they would be named Sea Chieftain and Sea Crusader. Sea Chieftain was named in May 1998 but her construction suffered many delays so the M.o.D was offered the first ship instead. However this vessel couldn't be named Sea Chieftain (as the second ship had already been officially named) nor could it be called Sea Crusader (as a different vessel of the same name was still on charter to the RFA). Instead a new name, Sea Centurion, was chosen and she was delivered to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary on an 18 month charter, with an option to extend. However her owners have since gone bankrupt and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary will not receive the second vessel, Sea Chieftain.

Handed over to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in October 1998 Sea Centurion was put to immediate work and later was named by Mrs Richards, wife of Chief Joint Rapid Deployment Force, Brigadier Paul Richards. In 1999 the ship transported military vehicles and equipment from her home at Marchwood to British forces in Kosovo.

Sea Centurion is easily identified by her blue hull, white superstructure and grey funnels. She is 183 metres long and has a breadth of 26 metres and a 7 metre draught. Displacing 22,000 tonnes, Sea Centurion has a speed of 22 knots and a complement of 17.

Above: Sea Centurion (left) together with Sea Crusader (right) at Marchwood. Thanks to Tommy Sands of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary- Unofficallly! website for allowing me to use this picture.

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© Written and researched by Jeremy Olver. Last updated 3rd September 2000. Disclaimer.