HMS Grimsby is the first Royal Navy vessel to visit an Irish port since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The minehunter sailed overnight from Scotland to Dublin.
HMS Grimsby is a Mine Counter Measures Vessel (MCMV). The ROyal Navy say on their website that she maintains freedom of navigation on the high seas – vital to the UK international trade – by keeping international shipping lanes open.
“She has a crew of 38, the majority of whom have done multiple deployments to the Middle East and Europe to work alongside NATO Allies. Over the past five years she has had seven different crews and visited over 18 different countries, working tirelessly to maintains freedom of navigation on the high seas by keeping international shipping lanes open.”
Good Morning Dublin! A gorgeous morning of pilotage up the River Liffey, ahead of a weekend of engagements and a chance for the Ship’s company to experience their first (Covid-Safe) overseas run ashore in some time @UKDefenceDublin pic.twitter.com/OMK1P5qNkQ
— HMS Grimsby (@HMSGrimsby) October 15, 2021
HMS Grimsby will now engage on a weekend of engagements.
Accoring to local media here:
“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. 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.”
Slightly off topic , but a very interesting story from Helensburgh
Waheed Totakhyl: ‘Taliban sympathiser told to leave’ Aldonaig Farm in Rhu
AN ALLEGED “Taliban sympathiser” who has been renting land in Rhu has reportedly been asked to leave after security concerns were raised.
Waheed Totakhyl has been renting the 75-acre Aldonaig Farm in the hills above the village, overlooking Royal Navy personnel housing on Smugglers Way and the Gareloch, where nuclear submarines and other vessels enter and exit Faslane naval base – which is only two miles away.
A leading member of the Scottish Afghan Society, Mr Totakhyl is said to have a brother currently serving as a military commander with the Taliban in Kabul.
https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/19638970.waheed-totakhyl-taliban-supporter-told-leave-aldonaig-farm-rhu/
She was in Belfast a couple of weeks ago for the maritime festival. Brilliant to see her docked from where I work . Although one of the security guards I was speaking to, tried to crack she was a frigate lol
Sort of on subject-Heading up the River Liffey..I have headed down the River Liffey in the annual Liffey Descent Canoe Race. The River is often barely flowing due to the numerous weirs and water drawn off it for local consumption. During the race they release water making the approximately 8 or so weirs paddlable for the event. It has been won by Saffer paddlers on a number of occassions. Here in SA the sport is popular and we have some magnificent and big rapid events.
A good example of the secondary role played by the minehunters. They will leave a gap that the unmanned vessels cannot fill!
“HMS Grimsby will now engage on a weekend of engagements.”
I am sure it will be duty of the sailors on board to undertake consuming some of Dublin’s finest, Guinness.
Enjoy
I suppose she will have a “For Sale” notice on her sides.
Not in Dublin she won’t, no point with the Lake class being bought.
Maybe!!
Nah, she might get flogged off but it won’t be to Ireland.
Hah, I can see the for-sale sign already! To some, she’d make a great floating gin palace, but I suppose in Dublin it’d be a floating Guinness palace?
The anglo-Irish relationship might need a few more generations before military hardware sales sales become a possibility?
Ah, the U.K. has been the main military hardware suppliers to Ireland since the founding of the state, from small arms, to tanks, to planes and ships.
Morning Mark. Long time-hope you are well. What kind of ships are the Lake Class and how many are yous getting?
Doing alright so far, hope you are as well. The Lake class are the New Zealand IPV class, talks have been on going for the last year or so to buy the 2 decommissioned hulls in order to increase operations in the Irish Sea post Brexit. They are to be based in Dublin instead of Cork to reduce transit times.
Hi Mark. Thanks for that. I found some info on them. A good looking business like design! Should be ideal for the east coast.
Cheers
The folks over at Navylookout are reporting that a ‘Mine Countermeasures Logistic Support Vessel’ will be procured alongside the existing projects. It’s certainly a welcome addition if it’s true!
Just the one?! We need mother ships not a mother ship.
Plural by the sounds of it – I should have clarified!
Nice to hear Lusty-thanks!
No worries mate!
I thought the lake class couldn’t manage the seas around NZ. The North Atlantic isn’t exactly a mill pond?
These are for the Irish Sea not for the North Atlantic, mainly to handle the expected increase in fishing disputes/inspections post Brexit, that’s why they are to be stationed in Dublin rather than Cobh. As to their sea worthiness, from conversations with the RNZN it was more manpower and a move to longer range operations rather than inability to handle the coastal conditions.
Ukraine or Baltics best bet.
Always interesting to see RN ships visit hostile states..
Oh that’s cute…