RFA Tidespring sails into jaws of Siberian Beast

This is what the ‘Beast from the East’ looks like if you’re sailing into the teeth of it.

Taken on the bridge of brand-new tanker RFA Tidespring, Storm Emma has left the forecastle of the 37,000-tonne support ship blanketed in snow – with the odd footprint of crew members clearly visible, despite the flurry.

This foreboding image was captured by apprentice communications/information systems specialist Matt Bromage who said the view from the bridge made it look like Tidespring was “sailing into hell”.

The ship, built to resupply new carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, is currently off the Devon and Cornwall coast, having conducted a practice replenishment with Queen Elizabeth on Monday… a practice the approaching storm forced the two ships to break off prematurely.