More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
HMS Medway will arrive in the Towns today ahead of its commissioning ceremony this week.
The Royal Navy's latest warship will be officially launched into the service in Chatham on Thursday.
Scroll down to find out where to see HMS Medway in Kent
The patrol vessel left her berth in London last night before heading down the Thames anchoring off Southend and she will then proceed on the River Medway to her dock this afternoon.
The ship is expected to arrive at about 2pm and is due to lay up alongside in the basin along Maritime Way.
It will mark the first moment in a historic week for the Medway Towns with the ship being officially brought into service in the area she's named after.
Following the commissioning, she will be officially ready for active duty on patrol missions around the globe.
It is the first of several events celebrating the ship.
The crew will parade through Chatham on Saturday morning to receive the Freedom of Medway.
To the sound of beating drums, the ship's company will be led by the Royal Marines Band from the town centre at 11am before heading along Dock Road to Chatham Historic Dockyard.
The Mayor of Medway, Cllr Habib Tejan, will take the salute at the dais outside the council offices.
The crew will then take part in the attraction's Salute to the 40s weekend.
It is rare for a ship to be commissioned in the place it is named after, making the visit to Medway even more special.
HMS Medway, which will be based in Portsmouth, is a 90-metre offshore patrol vessel.
Where to see HMS Medway in Kent
The ship has a crew of 40, who will be involved in counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations to help keep Britain safe.
Construction began in June 2015 when the first steel was cut in Glasgow and built on the River Clyde by BAE Systems.
The ship was then later named at Scotstoun yard on the Clyde by Lady Fallon, wife of then Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon.
HMS Medway is equipped with a flight deck to operate the Merlin helicopter and armed with a 30mm automatic cannon, two miniguns, four machine guns and is capable of more than 24 knots.
The warship is one of the Royal Navy's river-class patrol vessels and is the second in the class to enter service as one of three costing a fixed price of £348 million.
On Sunday, the ship will be open to visitors at Chatham Maritime from 10am to 4pm.
Visitors must book to gain access to the ship and entry will be restricted to those with a ticket which can be booked via Eventbrite.
Royal Navy ship to be commissioned in Chatham
Send your photos of HMS Medway arriving in Kent by sending them to medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk
To read about the Armed Forces and how they have served Kent and beyond, click here.
