Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Severn sailed from Portsmouth on November 25th, 2014 for an eight-month deployment to the North Atlantic.
She will provide security and assurance to the UK’s overseas territories in the Caribbean and will be on standby for disaster relief operations.
Severn will carry emergency relief stores including food and water and among her 48 crew is a doctor and medical team.
The ship can make ten tonnes of fresh water per day and is also able to embark shipping containers of aid and equipment if required.
Lieutenant Ben Read, HMS Severn’s Navigating Officer, said: “We are trained and fully capable of deploying specialist Royal Navy personnel ashore to assess damage, identify priorities and recommend where disaster relief resources are best apportioned.”
The ship’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Steve Banfield, added: “Whilst Severn normally operates in UK waters, our focus is now on deploying the ship and our personnel for the Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North).
“I’m confident that our training has prepared us well for all contingencies and tasking that may be required of us.”
[mappress mapid=”14565″] Press Release; Image: Royal Navy