LITTLE BAY—HMS Mersey, the current Atlantic Patrol Task (North) platform is carded to dock in Montserrat on a three day working visit from April 25 – 28, 2016, states a Government House press release. The Ship will engage in a range of operational and community activities which will include training and exercising with the key Montserrat disaster and incident response agencies, and will be guests at reception at Government House, while also engaging in other social and recreational activities.
The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Richard Hewitt, said: “It is the fifth UKOT Mersey will have visited since departing the UK in January, I am looking forward to anchoring Mersey in Montserrat to continue to show the Royal Navy’s commitment to UK Overseas Territories, as well as working with Montserrat disaster and incident organisations.”
Unfortunately, due to lack of easy access, it will not be possible to arrange visits to the ship by the general public. She is unable to dock at the Little Bay jetty due to the shallow depth of the water.
HMS Mersey is an Offshore Patrol Vessel, smaller than the frigates and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels that have visited Montserrat in the past.
The disaster exercise on April 26 will work through a theoretical scenario and will engage the ship with the key local preparedness and response agencies. There will be a live element which will allow the ship to test its deployment of a shore party and co-ordination point.
