HMS Grimsby to Arrive in Inverness, Scotland

Royal Navy mine hunter HMS Grimsby – which is home-ported HM Naval Base Clyde – will arrive in Inverness on Friday, September 13 for a short affiliation visit after circumnavigating the north coast of Scotland.

The ship will arrive alongside at the city’s Longman Quay No.3 berth around 7am and, though regrettably she won’t be open for the public to visit on this occasion, it still represents the chance for locals to see the warship from the dockside.

The City of Inverness is affiliated to the Royal Navy’s First Mine Counter-Measures Squadron (MCM1), and HMS Grimsby, nicknamed the Fighting Boar, is one of the squadron’s seven Sandown Class mine-hunters based at HMNB Clyde at Faslane.

Her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Mark Hammon and his crew, have a varied and busy programme of events during the four-day stay.

As is customary on such visits, Lt Cdr Hammon will call upon several local dignitaries and public figures, including Councillor Alex Graham, Provost of Inverness on the Friday morning.

On Friday evening, the ship will host a reception and capability demonstration for invited guests, while over the weekend, members of Grimsby’s crew will provide tours for many students from local schools and local youth organisations.

The ship will then return to sea on Monday. Schools and groups visiting the ship during her time in port include Inverness High School, Glen Urquhart High School, Culloden Academy, Avoch Sea Scouts and Inverness Sea Cadets of TS Briton.

“This will be the crew’s first UK visit since the Gulf and Grimsby is proud to be in Inverness representing the 1st Mine Counter Measures Squadron and the Royal Navy,” said Lt Cdr Hammon.

“Inverness is one of Europe’s fastest growing cities, but it also has a long proud seafaring history and as a maritime nation it is a brilliant opportunity to re-invigorate the strong bonds between the city, the crew and the Royal Navy as a whole.

”And we crew couldn’t ask for a finer ship, as HMS Grimsby has recently returned to the Fleet after refit in Rosyth and is now at the forefront of mine hunting technology.”

Civic affiliations are an important part of the Royal Navy’s commitment to raising the awareness of the variety of roles, equipment and people that make up the senior service.

By interacting with the local community – both in terms of allowing crew members to repay the affection shown to them, and as a recruitment function – a ship’s company can forge a lasting relationship.

HMS Grimsby, with the famous boars head crest which inspired her nickname, spent almost three years in the Gulf, only returning to her Scottish base last in 2012.

The Royal Navy rotates the 35-strong crews of mine hunters, with the ships staying in the humid region for 3-4 years at a time and the different crews flying out to deploy onboard for several months.

The ship has been back in UK waters since then, and earlier this year played her part in the massive multi-national exercise Joint Warrior off the north west coast of Scotland.

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Press Release, September 12, 2013; Image: Royal Navy