A large Royal Navy replenishment ship has been spotted sailing across Lyme Bay this afternoon (August 21).

The vessel is the Royal Fleet Auxillary, (RFA) Tidespring, Marine Traffic.com says that the ship is 'underway using engine' and left from Gibraltar on August 16 travelling to Rosslare Port in Ireland and is currently sailing at 8.9 knots.

The vessel was spotted by one Seaton resident, who posted into the Seaton Notice Board Facebook group asking what the ominous big grey ship was travelling through Lyme Bay.

RFA Tidespring is a Replenishment Vessel that was built in 2016. The RFA is a naval auxiliary fleet owned by the UK Ministry of Defence. They provide logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The RFA ensures the Royal Navy is supplied and supported by providing fuel and stores through replenishment at sea, transporting Royal Marines and British Army personnel, providing medical care and transporting equipment and essentials around the world. The RFA also provide humanitarian aid, counter piracy and counter narcotic patrols together with assisting the Royal Navy in preventing conflict and securing international trade. They are a uniformed civilian branch of the Royal Navy staffed by British merchant sailors.

You can track the full journey of RFA Tidespring on Marine Traffic.com