A Sandown-class minehunter of the UK’s Royal Navy, HMS Penzance (M1O6) which departed Oban in west Scotland is on a visit to Dublin Port having arrived this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.

During the week the 500 displacement tonnes HMS Penzance had been offshore of Newcastle, Co. Down and Afloat continued to track the vessel that reached Lambay Island yesterday.

An overnight anchorage took place off the west side of the island and offshore of Rush in north, Co. Dublin. This morning the 52m minehunter was off Howth Peninsula waiting for a pilot cutter from the port which took place at around 0900hrs, before proceeding into Dublin Bay.

A crew of 40 operate the minehunter which berthed at the North Quay Wall Extension, one of the port’s areas where foreign naval vessels are allocated berths. As routine, the port of call will enable crew rest and recreation. 

HMS Penzance is named after the seaside town of Penzance in Cornwall and was commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1998. Also in service are more of the Sandown-class, HMS Pembroke and HMS Bangor, where the harbour-town on Belfast Lough was visited by HMS Penzance in June as part of the Sea Bangor Festival.

The primary role of HMS Penzance, as part of the First Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1) is to work along the UK coastline, clearing mines to allow safe passage for larger forces. The minehunters also provide an additional layer of protection thanks to their firepower and conduct NATO exercises with other nations.

In 2000 the minehunter was deployed to the Middle East for three years as part of a Mine Countermeasures Squadron based out of Bahrain.

On completion of the call to the Irish capital, a departure on Monday and it is understood HMS Penzance is to return to Oban.