Warship returning to Sunderland

Sunderland's adopted warship, HMS Ocean, is returning to the city on May 26.

HMS Ocean returning to Sunderland

More than 200 crew from Sunderland's adopted warship HMS Ocean will parade through the city centre on Saturday 26th May. It's part of a four day visit by the Royal Navy's largest warship. HMS Ocean and her crew were granted the Freedom of the City in 2004.

I’m really looking forward to bringing HMS Ocean to her affiliated city of Sunderland. Everybody on board is excited about it, particularly as we were unable to visit last year because of our operational deployment to Libya and the Gulf of Oman. It will be a particular honour to exercise the Freedom of the City on the Saturday and then to give people the opportunity to look around the Royal Navy’s largest warship when we open to visitors on the Sunday.

– Captain Andrew Betton, Commanding Officer of HMS Ocean
  • 3.30pm Parade steps off from rear of Civic Centre to Burdon Road, War Memorial
  • 3.30 - 4.10pm Service at War Memorial
  • 4.10pm Parade marches through city centre