RFA Wave Ruler (A390)

RFA "Wave Ruler" (A390) is a "Wave Knight"-class fast fleet tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary of the United Kingdom.

RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler are large fleet tankers designed to replace the Olna and Olwen, two 36,000t displacement fast fleet tankers, built at Swan Hunter and Hawthorn Leslie in the 1960s.

The ships have the capability to deliver fuel through an RAS (replenishment at sea) rig, either port, starboard or astern to other vessels. For amphibious support, the ships can also deliver fuel to pillow tanks or dracones positioned alongside. The RASCON replenishment at sea equipment is supplied by Clarke Chapman. The package of abeam and astern re-fuelling systems includes the RAS system, an ammunition handling crane specially fitted out for abeam re-fuelling, steering gear and rudder packages, thyristor-controlled winch/windlasses and double drum mooring winches.

In 2006 the "Wave Ruler" carried out three major cocaine seizures at sea. In September it recovered £64m of cocaine from an estimated cargo of £500m, after the crew of the fishing boat carrying the drugs set it on fire. On November 2 the ship and its accompanying Royal Marines captured 3 tonnes of cocaine worth £300m. On November 29 it seized a further 2.9 tonnes, again from a fishing boat. All the raids took place in the Caribbean. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6195304.stm BBC News] ] [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=navy-grabs--pound-300m-coke-&method=full&objectid=18031246&siteid=94762-name_page.html The Mirror] ]

On August 31, 2008 the "Wave Ruler" was dispatched to assist relief efforts in the Caribbean for the Atlantic Hurricane Gustav. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7589536.stm|title=Navy ships help after hurricane.|publisher=BBC News |date=2008-08-31]

On October 3, 2008 the ship docked in Havana, Cuba. This was only the second time since the country's revolution 50 years before that a Royal Navy ship had visited the country. The five-day stay was part of an ongoing anti-drugs operation in the Carribean. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7653121.stm Cuba welcomes RN anti-drug ship] ]

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