A Royal Navy warship has visited Colombia for defence engagement and in preparation for a major regional maritime exercise.
HMS Lancaster visited port city of Cartagena in preparation for Exercise UNITAS, a multi national exercise being played out in the region.
She entered the South American country with a 21 gun salute which the Colombian Navy returned before going on to host two defence and security industry days with several British defence companies represented.
In addition the ship also hosted hundreds of visitors during ships tours and capability demonstrations.
Sailors from the Colombian Naval College, as well as sailors from other ships taking part in UNITAS, were given the opportunity to explore the Queen’s Frigate seeing how it works and carries out its business.
The ship also had the opportunity to host a reception for Admirals from the Colombian and US Navies as well as other ships taking part in exercise UNITAS.
During the day a team of eight Lancaster sailors put their skills to good use and visited a school on Tierra Bomba Island as part of a community relations project. Over the years the school had degraded but Lancaster’s sailors set to work early in the morning giving it a fresh lick of paint that will last for years.
HMS Lancaster’s Commanding Officer, Commander Steve Moorhouse, said:
“It was a great honour to visit Colombia. Our links with the Columbians are growing stronger each year and to be able to exercise together and discuss future ship building projects and developing capabilities has been hugely beneficial.
“The presence of a number of other South and Central American navies together with US and Canadian units also makes Ex UNITAS a wonderful vehicle for Lancaster to exercise and maintain her core skills while highlighting the Royal Navy’s presence in the region.”
Lancaster left Cartagena after a very busy but extremely successful visit.
The ship has integrated with numerous North, South and Central American countries, all nations that Lancaster may well work alongside in her continued fight against drugs in the Caribbean.
Furthermore the visit provided the sailors with an excellent opportunity explore the historic town of Cartagena with its stunning architecture and Hispanic way of life.
Lancaster will now continue to visit Caribbean and Commonwealth countries in order to conduct regional defence engagement, train with other navies and demonstrate the Royal Navy’s continued commitment to the region.
[mappress] Press Release, September 17, 2013; Image: Royal Navy