HMS Enterprise ( H88 ) HMS " Enterprise " , the tenth ship to bear this name , is a multi - role survey vessel - hydrographic oceanographic ( SVHO ) of the Royal Navy . She has a sister ship , , and together they make up the " Echo " class of survey vessels . Design . " Echo " and " Enterprise " are the first Royal Navy ships to be fitted with azimuth thruster s . Both azimuth thrusters and the bow thruster can be controlled through the integrated navigation system by a joystick providing high manoeuvrability . Complete control and monitoring for power generation and propulsion , together with all auxiliary plant systems , tank gauging and damage control functions is provided through the integrated platform management system ( IPMS ) , accessible through workstations around the ship . Role . " Enterprise " and her sister ship are designed to conduct survey operations in support of submarines or amphibious operations . She can provide almost real - time tailored environmental information , and also has a secondary role as a mine countermeasure tasking authority platform , for which she is capable of embarking a dedicated mine counter measures command team . Construction . Built by Appledore Shipbuilders under the prime contractor Vosper Thornycroft , " Enterprise " was launched on 27 April 2002 , officially named by the ship ' s sponsor , Lady Sally Forbes , at her naming ceremony on 2 May 2002 , and commissioned on 18 October 2003 . She is designed and built to Lloyd ' s Naval Ship Rules . Manning . " Enterprise " s crew consists of 72 personnel , with 48 on board at any one time , working a cycle of 75 days on , 30 days off . The ship can accommodate 81 personnel if necessary . The ship is operationally available 330 days a year . In support of this high availability , all accommodation and recreational facilities are designed for an unusual ( in a warship ) degree of comfort . All personnel share double cabins with private facilities , except the captain and executive officer who both have single cabins . Operational history . 2004 Mediterranean deployment . Her first operational overseas deployment was to the Mediterranean in October 2004 , returning to Devonport in April 2005 . She participated in a NATO exercise and conducted oceanographic and hydrographic survey . 2005 Middle East deployment . She sailed in September 2005 to conduct survey operations in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin . She also conducted a collaborative hydrographic survey with the Saudi military . 2007 West Africa deployment . In 2007 " Enterprise " deployed for 19 months to West Africa , South Africa , the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf . While in the Gulf she worked off the coast of Iraq in support of the UK and Iraqi governments . 2009 Africa and Gulf deployment . " Enterprise " deployed in June 2009 for two years on an extended deployment to West Africa spending three months there before travelling through the Mediterranean to begin operations east of Suez later in the year . She returned to Devonport on 10 June 2011 , having covered over during the deployment . Affiliations . " Enterprise " is affiliated with ' D ' ( Royal Devon Yeomanry ) Squadron Royal Wessex Yeomanry and the town of Tiverton , Devon , which includes the freedom of the city with the ship ' s company able to march through the town with flags flying whilst bearing arms . They are also affiliated with the local Sea Cadet unit in Tiverton , TS Hermes . She is also the affiliated ship of Reading Blue Coat School ( RBCS ) CCF Navy Section and the Worshipful Company of Cutlers .