xav wrote:I thought raising white ensign = commissioning ?!
No it isn't. I see many times RN ships flying white ensign before the commissioning ceremony.
When "handed over to RN", the ship starts flying white ensign.
After RN side initial training and FOST ends, then she are declared operational.
Somewhere in between, she goes to commissioning ceremony.
For example, both T26-hull1 and T31-hull1 will be "handed over" to RN on 2025 = then flying white ensign.
In 2027, T26-hull1 will be declared operational. The date for being operational is not clear for T31-hull1.
In-between 2025 and 2027, T26-hull1 will be commissioned. T31, as well.
This is what I understand.