Taking a break from her Atlantic patrol duties, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay stopped in Bermuda on December 15 for a three day visit.
The ship has been deployed to the region to provide humanitarian and disaster relief for the UK’s Caribbean overseas territories and Bermuda.
This year RFA Mounts Bay has been in the Caribbean for hurricane season, ready to provide support at a moment’s notice. Tasked by the Royal Navy, she was the UK’s first military response to the Caribbean during Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria.
RFA Mounts Bay will also provide some logistical support to the Royal Bermuda Regiment and will host a disaster management presentation of the vessels capabilities for members of Bermuda’s Emergency Measures Organisation – the primary organisation for disaster management co-ordination on island. RFA Mounts Bay will also host tours for the Bermuda Sea Cadets and the Bermuda Scouts Association.
“We warmly welcome the first visit of RFA Mounts Bay to Bermuda. I saw at first hand her invaluable work on crisis preparedness and crisis response in the Caribbean during the recent Hurricanes,” governor for Bermuda, John Rankin said. “I have no doubt that her presence in the affected areas in the immediate aftermath of the recent storms saved lives for which we are all eternally grateful. Thankfully, Mounts Bay visits us in calmer conditions and her visit provides a great opportunity for the sharing of experiences and capabilities between our own Emergency Measures Organisation and that of the RFA Mounts Bay itself.”
RFA Mounts Bay (L3008) is one of three landing ship docks (Auxiliary) built by BAE Systems for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary service. She was launched in April 2004 and accepted into service in July 2006.