Merseyside’s very own Royal Navy warship is returning to Liverpool for a short visit during which time she will celebrate the 10th anniversary of her commissioning in the city.
Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Mersey will be spending four days at Alexandra Dock Branch 3, as part of her 10th anniversary celebrations, going alongside from noon on Thursday, July 25 and returning to sea on Sunday. This ship is affiliated to the Borough of Sefton and was commissioned in Liverpool in March 2004.
Mersey is taking part in a number of events during the celebrations including a 10th birthday Ball and Charity Auction attended by the ship’s company, to be held at Anfield on Friday night.
The ship’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Sarah Oakley – one of just two serving female ship’s ‘captains’ – will host a reception onboard for invited local dignitaries and other guests, as well as providing a number of tours and visits throughout her stay, in particular for local cadet groups from Bollington and Macclesfield, Bebington and Connah’s Quay.
Due to the short period she will be alongside and the location of her berth, all of these events will be via private invitation only and unforatunately the ship will not be open for public tours on this occasion.
The purpose of this visit is to continue to strengthen the close links the ship shares with the Borough of Sefton, as well as to mark the significant milestone of 10 years’ service.
During this time, HMS Mersey has steamed a total of 391,653 nautical miles and spent nearly 50,000 hours at sea.
This equates to 268 circumnavigations of the British Isles, her primary operating waters, and over 2066 days at sea. She has also been fortunate to visit her affiliated region 14 times since her first visit.
As a member of the Fishery Protection Squadron, the oldest Squadron in the Royal Navy, HMS Mersey spends her time patrolling UK waters guarding our national interests in home waters as well as enforcing EU fishery legislation within UK controlled and adjacent waters.
With a total ship’s company of around 45, a three watch system is used to rotate the crew, ensuring that the ship is able to remain at sea for in excess of 300 days in each year, protecting Britain’s interests at home.
Lt Cdr Oakley said:
“I am very much looking forward to bringing HMS Mersey to Liverpool on the occasion of the ship’s 10th birthday.
“It is an ideal opportunity to visit our affiliates in Sefton, and to share the celebration with the ship’s sponsor, Mrs Jennie Reeve, the sea cadet unit TS Ardent and our affiliated Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators.
“I hope to meet many local people during our visit, from youth groups, the RNA, churches and local charities, to re-affirm the strength of our affiliation.”
[mappress] Press Release, July 26, 2013; Image: Royal Navy