BAE Systems, Regina Maria, the second of two ex-Royal Navy Type 22 frigates being regenerated and modernised by a BAE Systems-led team for the Romanian Navy, is to be officially named and commissioned at Portsmouth today.
The ceremony will be attended by Mr Ioan Ion, Secretary of State for Armaments of Romania, and Britain's Minister for Defence Procurement Lord Bach. The handover of Regina Maria (formerly HMS London) follows the commissioning of the Regele Ferdinand (formerly HMS Coventry) on 9 September 2004.
The two ships became available for sale in 2001. Agreement was reached for their acquisition following discussions between the UK and Romanian Governments in December 2002.
The reactivation of the ships to operational condition and NATO standards is being undertaken through the MOD's Defence Logistics Organisation, which placed a
