The Royal Fleet auxiliary (RFA) ship Wave Ruler will pay a formal visit to Valletta from Saturday to Tuesday. She will be berthed at Pinto Wharf. It will be open to visitors on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Her commanding officer, Captain Shaun Jones RFA, to be relieved by Captain Robert Dorey RFA during the ship's visit, will host a reception on board on Saturday evening for the Ex RFA Association.

Captain Jones said:

“It is a great honour to be able to take Wave Ruler into the magnificent and historical setting of Grand Harbour. Personally, I have a strong connection with Malta in that I joined my first ship, RFA Tarbatness in Malta back in 1974. Tarbatness was manned by a Maltese crew and it will be wonderful to welcome the RFA Association onboard my current command and relive many happy memories,"

While in Valletta, RFA Wave Ruler will carry out an operational stand down period and a limited crew change.

RFA Wave Ruler is currently on Deployment Taurus 09 as part of a Royal Naval Task Group which forms the biggest deployment to the Far East in more than a decade.

Taurus 09 aims to maintain the Royal Navy’s fighting capability as well as develop the UK’s capacity to operate with key partners and allies from NATO countries and other nations, enhancing interoperability and demonstrating the UK’s commitment to the stability and security of the Mediterranean, Middle East and South East Asia.

In exercising its ability to deploy globally, the task group will remain available for a range of potential missions as required, such as anti-piracy, humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

RFA Wave Ruler left the UK in February, her primary role during being that of a fast fleet replenishment tanker, having to date carried out in the region of 90 replenishments at sea during the deployment. Wave Ruler is due to return to the UK in August.