HMS Enterprise Spends the Weekend in Cardiff

The Royal Navy’s ocean survey vessel, HMS Enterprise, sailed into Cardiff over the weekend for an eight-day visit.

Docking at Britannia Quay on Friday, the ship will host a number of visiting groups during her time in port.

Organised tour groups visiting the ship on Tuesday include Sea Cadets from Cardiff, Penarth and Barry.

“We are looking forward to hosting various local groups and are particularly hoping that we get a good response when we open our gangway to members of the public on Sunday,” said Commander Derek Rae, Commanding Officer of HMS Enterprise.

HMS Enterprise and her sister HMS Echo were designed to carry out a wide range of survey work, including support to submarine and amphibious operations, through the collection of oceanographic and bathymetric (analysis of the ocean, its salinity and sound profile) data.

She emerged from a five-month refit in September 2013 and is now in the process of trials and training before returning to her full operational deployment later this year.

She is the second Royal Navy ship (after sister HMS Echo) to use azimuth thrusters, where the propellers are part of a swivelling pod, allowing for precise manoeuvring.

She is also capable of acting as home for a mine countermeasures command team.

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Press Release, March 24, 2014, Image: UK Navy