MV Maersk Rapier

MV Maersk Rapier is a commercial product tanker owned by the A.P. Moller–Maersk Group and chartered to the United Kingdoms Ministry of Defence (MoD). The vessel serves as the primary strategic link for the collection and transportation of purchased fuel from oil refineries to British and NATO fuel depots.

MoD charter
Maersk Rapier is tasked with supplying fuel to the United Kingdoms various naval establishments at home and overseas. The vessel operates principally in the British, Atlantic and Mediterranean regions and provides aviation fuel to various RAF stations, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, the airbridge connection at Ascension Island and Mount Pleasant in the Falklands. The MoD sub-charters the vessel (known as 3rd party trading) to commercial companies during rare periods where she is not in use for defence purposes.

The operations at the Falklands and Ascension require the use of specialist floating hoses. At the Falklands the fuel is discharged through an SBM at Mare Harbour. The vessel also regularly serves the NATO fueling station at Loch Striven and occasionally the fuel jetties at Garelochhead, Gosport and Plymouth. The vessel primarily carries a combination of Aviation Fuel for the Royal Air Force and high grade Diesel for the Royal Navy.

The Maersk Rapier has been under permanent charter with the MoD since 2003. Still in service as of 2014. The commercial contract to carry fuel for the MoD has also been extended to other Maersk vessels in the past. From 1982 to 2003 the vessels Maersk Ascension and Maersk Gannet were also under permanent charter to the MoD.