It may be frosty in the UK for the festive period but for HMS Severn December was spent in the sunshine of the Caribbean as she visited Antigua, Barbados and Montserrat. Her most recent visit was to Montserrat where the patrol vessel anchored in Little Bay while Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Steve Banfield met with His Excellency The Governor of Montserrat Mr Adrian Davis.
He also received briefings from the Disaster Management Coordination Agency and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory as part of the ship’s tasking over the next six months will be to provide assistance in the event of a natural disaster.
The ship’s company also helped to host a children’s beach party organised by the local Red Cross branch and went to a Caribbean Christmas carol concert.
HMS Severn docked in Barbados for four days where the CO met with the Barbados Defence Force while the rugby team met with the Barbados 7s International coach to set up a future match between the two sides.
The ship also opened its gangway to a number of visits, including the Barbados Coast Guard who toured the ship and discussed future training opportunities, Duke of Edinburgh Award participants and the families of the employees of the British High Commission based in Bridgetown.
And in Antigua the ship visited St John’s Harbour where they hoisted dignitaries and had a few days off to enjoy their surroundings before a busy period ahead.
The Portsmouth-based River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel has deployed to the North Atlantic as part of a long-standing commitment to the region. Having taken over from HMS Argyll which returned before Christmas, she will provide reassurance to British Overseas Territories and dependencies in the region, conduct Counter-Narcotics tasking whilst also being prepared to conduct disaster relief if called upon.
Press Release