How a Royal Navy officer prevented HMS Prince of Wales colliding with a ferry

A Royal Navy officer has been honoured after helping to prevent a potentially catastrophic collision involving the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and a passenger ferry in the Mediterranean.

Lieutenant David Hardiman received the Lady Swaythling Trophy for outstanding seamanship after his actions aboard the carrier helped avert disaster when the ferry GNV Sirio unexpectedly altered course towards the warship during Operation Highmast in November 2025, eventually passing just 400 yards ahead.

The Lady Swaythling Trophy recognises outstanding seamanship. The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society (a UK maritime charity supporting seafarers and their families) presented it at its annual Skill and Gallantry Awards.

According to reporting by Portsmouth News, Lt Hardiman was awarded the prestigious award for his calm judgement and decisive actions. He was in charge of the safe navigation of the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier and demonstrated “outstanding seamanship under pressure.”

GNV Sirio unexpectedly altered course

In the early hours (around 2.30 am) of the 19 November 2025, the UK Carrier Strike Group, led by the HMS Prince of Wales, was coming toward the end of its seven-month world tour.

The carrier had more than 1,600 personnel embarked, was operating in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Italy, and was preparing to embark Italian F-35s. It was around this time that the Royal Navy assembled a record 24 F-35Bs on the carrier.

As is normal during these operations, the carrier was not transmitting on the Automatic Identification System. The passenger ferry GNV Sirio was then seen on radar contact 15 nautical miles away.

The carrier initially assessed that the GNV Sirio would pass by at a safe distance, but then the ferry unexpectedly changed course toward the Prince of Wales and approached at high speed.

Hardiman avoided carrier and ferry collision

Lt Hardiman was the Officer of the Watch (OOW) and ordered the carrier to turn to starboard and increase separation. He also called the ship’s Navigator to the bridge. The risk continued to escalate; he ordered astern power to reduce speed.

At this point, Lt Hardiman prepared the ship for a possible collision. Fortunately, the GNV Sirio sailed ahead of the Royal Navy’s biggest vessel by just 400 yards (365 metres). The Prince of Wales measures 310 yards (284 metres) in length.

The Portsmouth News wrote, “Lt Hardiman’s quick-thinking leading to a serious collision being avoided. His outstanding seamanship was recognised by the charity Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society at its annual Skill and Gallantry Awards.”

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society’s chief executive, Captain Justin Osmond RN, said that Hardiman had demonstrated “exceptional composure, judgement and professionalism” during a moment of significant danger.