HMS Iron Duke has had her first port visit on her six month operational deployment to the Canary Island port of Santa Cruz in Tenerife.
The 4,200 tonne warship went alongside the cruise ship port of Santa Cruz, the Capital of Tenerife for a 4 day visit, prior to embarking on her operations off West Africa.
The Portsmouth based frigate paused on her way to operations with partner nations in the Atlantic Ocean to top up on provisions but also as a brief stand down for the crew.
Whilst alongside, the Type 23 frigate was dwarfed in the port as she was joined by P&O’s Oceana, affording the opportunity for her Captain to pay a call on the Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke, Commander Tom Tredray.
He said: “It was really interesting to meet the Captain of Oceana and discuss the similarities and differences of life as a Captain onboard a cruise ship to that of one onboard a warship.”
HMS Iron Duke sailed from Portsmouth in late Jun for a six month deployment on operations in the Atlantic.
[mappress] Press Release, July 07, 2014; Image: UK Navy