HMS Explorer (P164) is an **Archer-class (P2000)** fast inshore patrol and training vessel of the Royal Navy, originally built in 1986 by Watercraft Marine for the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service before transferring to full Royal Navy service in 1994. Displacing around 54 tonnes with a length of 20.8 metres, she is powered by twin diesel engines achieving speeds up to 25 knots and typically crewed by five permanent Royal Navy personnel, accommodating up to 12 trainees. Primarily assigned to the Yorkshire Universities Royal Naval Unit, based in Kingston-upon-Hull and serving students from the universities of Hull, Sheffield, and Leeds, Explorer provides seamanship, navigation, and leadership training while also conducting maritime security patrols, public engagement events, and operations in UK and European coastal waters, including deployments to the Baltic. As of early 2026, she remains actively in service within the Coastal Forces Squadron.
