Navy
HMS Mersey Heads To The Caribbean
HMS Mersey left Portsmouth harbour this morning, to begin a seven month deployment to the North Atlantic.
Families and friends gathered at Portsmouth's Round Tower, at the entrance to the harbour to wave off the river class offshore patrol vessel and their loved ones serving aboard.
The ship will provide security and assurance to the UK’s overseas territories in the Caribbean and carry out counter-narcotics patrols as part of the international effort to deter drug smuggling at sea.
Her crew will also be on standby for disaster relief operations and is well trained and equipped for the role - carrying emergency relief stores, a doctor and medical team on board.
The ship has the capacity to make ten tonnes of fresh water per day and can embark shipping containers of aid and equipment if required.
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