More current than navy's original vessel (5)
I believe the answer is:
newer
'more current' is the definition.
('new' is associated in meaning with 'current')
'navy's original vessel' is the wordplay.
'original' indicates taking the first letters.
'vessel' becomes 'ewer' (ewer is a kind of vessel).
The first letter of 'navy' is 'n'.
'n'+'ewer'='NEWER'
'than' acts as a link.
This may not be right. It may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for newer that I've seen before include "More recent" , "Fresher, not as old" , "More current" , "More pristine or recently invented" , "More up-to-date" .)