HMS Severn returns to Portsmouth from Caribbean
Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Severn received a warm welcome home from friends and family today (July 17) following a successful eight-month deployment across the Caribbean where she provided security and reassurance to the British Overseas Territories and dependencies.
The crew were happy to be home having travelled over 30,000 miles whilst away. They visited 29 ports, strengthening bonds across 20 different countries and islands, where they were on standby to assist in the event of a natural disaster.
The ship visited all of the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean – Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Anguilla and Grand Cayman. During these visits, the 48 ship’s company carried out training with local maritime fisheries enforcement agencies, worked with the Red Cross and got involved with the local community. The ship’s doctor and medical team offered medical training and the crew painted children’s homes, took part in sporting competitions and disaster relief exercises.
Image shows Able Seaman Chris Mackins from Swindon embraces his son Leo (18 months old).
Consent held at Fleet Photographic Portsmouth.
From Team Locals
Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Severn received a warm welcome home from friends and family today following a successful eight-month deployment across the Caribbean where she provided security and reassurance to the British Overseas Territories and dependencies.
The crew were happy to be home having travelled over 30,000 miles whilst away. They visited 29 ports, strengthening bonds across 20 different countries and islands where they were on standby to assist in the event of a natural disaster.
The ship visited all of the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean — Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Anguilla and Grand Cayman. During these visits the 48 ship’s company carried out training with local maritime fisheries enforcement agencies, worked with the Red Cross, and got involved with the local community. The ship’s doctor and medical team offered medical training and the crew painted children’s homes, took part in sporting competitions, and disaster relief exercises.
Strengthening ties and sharing expertise was an important part of the deployment. HMS Severn embarked Barbadian and Belizean Coast Guard Officers and developed working relationships with the US, Barbados, Bahamian and Belizean Coast Guards and the Dominican Republic, French (Martinique) and Netherlands (Aruba) Navies. The ship also took part in the inaugural Aruba Sail Week 2015, conducting a sail-past and salute to the King and Queen of the Netherlands.
HMS Severn’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Steven Banfield, said: “My ship’s company have performed admirably to achieve our mission across the North Atlantic. We have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the challenges of this unique tasking and having the opportunity to represent the UK in the Caribbean. Our thanks must go to our families as without their support we would not be able to do the job we love or achieve as much as we have in the past eight months.”
The later stages of the deployment saw HMS Severn take part in a multi-national Caribbean exercise called Tradewinds 15, working alongside the Mexican Navy, US Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy, and Belizean Coastguard units as well as coastguards from the Eastern Caribbean.
Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Severn received a warm welcome home from friends and family today (July 17) following a successful eight-month deployment across the Caribbean where she provided security and reassurance to the British Overseas Territories and dependencies.
The crew were happy to be home having travelled over 30,000 miles whilst away. They visited 29 ports, strengthening bonds across 20 different countries and islands, where they were on standby to assist in the event of a natural disaster.
The ship visited all of the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean – Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Anguilla and Grand Cayman. During these visits, the 48 ship’s company carried out training with local maritime fisheries enforcement agencies, worked with the Red Cross and got involved with the local community. The ship’s doctor and medical team offered medical training and the crew painted children’s homes, took part in sporting competitions and disaster relief exercises.
Image shows HMS Severn coming in alongside in HMNB Portsmouth as the families and friends of the ship’s company line the jetty to welcome them back home.
Exercising in the waters off St Kitts and Nevis and Belize, the aim was to improve the ability of the nations to carry out a combined operation, responding to natural disasters and dealing with organised crime — two reasons why Severn was in the Caribbean.
The ship also conducted counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean as part of the international effort to deter drug smuggling at sea. The Royal Navy has been involved in many counter-narcotic operations over the years, preventing millions of pounds worth of drugs reaching UK shores.
Able Seaman Ryan Partington, 25 said: “It’s been a fantastic deployment — I’ve visited more places over the last eight months than I have in my seven year Navy career, done a multi-national exercise, and helped local communities all over the Caribbean. Now I’m looking forward to seeing my son and my parents as we get back alongside in Portsmouth.”
Charley’s image’ Charley
For more on this story go to: http://teamlocals.co.uk/hms-severn-returns-to-portsmouth/
