UK: Exercise Cambrian Trader Draws to a Close

After a year of planning, two days of intensive preparation and three days of determined hard work, Exercise Cambrian Trader has drawn to a close. Located in Milford Haven, and hosted by the Port of Milford Haven, the exercise involved, amongst others, HMS Mersey, Dyfed Powys Police, Royal Navy divers, Royal Navy Hydrographers, Army Reserves and many of the commercial oil and gas port facilities.

All of these organisations, agencies and units worked together to provide a high quality training environment for the Royal Naval Reserve’s Maritime Trade Operations specialisation.

Exercise Cambrian Trader brought together more than 80 Reservists from all over the UK and established temporary operational control facilities at the Port of Milford Haven and in the Port of Fishguard, complete with highly specialised information and communications systems.

Over the course of the exercise, this newly established organisation coordinated environmental assessments, structural surveys of port facilities, briefings for merchant ships and provision of police and Royal Navy escorts for ships entering the port.

At the same time, HMS Mersey provided Reservists with a taste of life at sea, welcoming groups on board for familiarisation with an operational warship.

Commander Simon Cottam, the head of the Royal Naval Reserve’s Maritime Trade Operations specialisation, said:

“We came to Milford Haven to demonstrate that we are trained and ready to support the Royal Navy and the wider merchant shipping community anywhere in the world.

“We achieved that, proving the versatility of our people and the global deployability of the Navy’s new maritime information systems.”

Commodore Jamie Miller, Naval Regional Commander for Wales and Western England and the on-scene Commander for the exercise, said:

“This exercise has been a major undertaking, focusing the attention of so many different organisations and agencies on Milford Haven for several days of intense activity.

“That it has been such a success is all down to the fantastic support from the Port of Milford Haven, as well as the understanding of the wider community, but an additional win has been getting to know each other better so that we can do the same again, in an exercise or for real.

“I look forward to continuing to support the Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock communities as they plan for the 200th Anniversary of Pembroke Dock, their Commemorative Events for the start of the First World War and the 350th Centenary of the Royal Marines in 2014.”

The Port’s headquarters return to normal after playing host to the temporary operations room, with all of its associated technology and personnel.

The Port has been critical to the success of Exercise Cambrian Trader, not just in terms of hosting the exercise itself, but also in supporting the planning phase, providing advice and facilitating access to the commercial oil and gas facilities around Milford Haven.

Bill Hirst, Harbourmaster, said:

“It was remarkable how quickly our board room was transformed into a fully operational control room, and just as remarkable how quickly it has returned to normal.

“The Royal Navy have been great guests, always close partners, and we hope this will forge an even greater trust, so essential in the maritime domain.”

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Press Release, October 01, 2013; Image: Navy