Displaying items by tag: Since Covidstuck
UK Royal Navy Minehunter Makes A Much Overdue Visit
HMS Grimsby (M108) became the first UK Royal Navy vessel to visit an Irish Port since the pandemic started, when the minehunter sailed overnight from Scotland to arrive in Dublin Port this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The Royal Navy Minehunter HMS Grimsby, is home to the First Mine Countermeasures Squadron Crew 2 and the call by the Sandown class minehunter to the Irish capital, will enable a weekend of engagements. In addition an opportunity for the Ship’s company to experience their first Covid-Safe overseas run ashore in quite some time.
Less than a fortnight ago was the notable visit by the Royal Netherlands Navy which marked the first foreign navy to call to Ireland with visits taking place in Dublin and Cobh, Cork Harbour.
Afloat yesterday morning tracked HMS Grimsby in the waters of Glasgow anchorage when off Greenock on the Firth of Clyde. Prior to that, HMS Clyde had sailed from HMS Clyde, the Naval Base at Faslane on Gare Loch which is the homeport of the UK's nuclear deterrent submarines.
On arrival to Dublin Bay this morning, a pilot boarded HMS Grimsby with the vessel heading up the River Liffey to berth at the North Wall Quay Extension next to the Tom Clarke (East-Link) bridge.
Before this occurred the UK (Exeter) registered cement-carrier coaster Ronez, yesterday vacated the same berth. This involved the small ship shift berths downriver to the Deepwater 'Coal' Quay where cement product exports take place.
A further pair of Sandown-class ships, HMS Blyth and HMS Ramsey which in 2016 paid a 'NATO' flotilla visit to Dublin Port, are no longer in service as both vessels in August were decommissioned at Rosyth. The pair however were transferred to the Ukrainian Navy to serve in the Black Sea.
Both these minehunters formed part of an original fleet of 12 Sandown class and as Ships Monthly (October issue) reports, together they had also served in the Arabian Gulf.
The UK Royal Naval remains with a permanent minehunting presence in the Middle East to ensure international shipping lanes remain safe and open.