A Royal Navy patrol ship has deployed to Jamaica to assist in humanitarian relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the Royal Navy stated.
HMS Trent arrived at the port of Falmouth on Jamaica’s northern coast earlier this week, landing engineers from 24 Commando Royal Engineers’ Crisis Response Troop to help restore essential services and assess damage after the Category 5 storm. Hurricane Melissa, which struck at the end of October, is reported to be the most powerful ever recorded in Jamaica.
“HMS Trent, upon the request of the Jamaican Government, landed our Crisis Response Troop ashore to provide disaster relief in Falmouth, Jamaica,” said Lieutenant Commander Paul Kilbride, Royal Navy, Executive Officer and temporary commanding officer of Trent. “Our team from 24 Commando Royal Engineers brings a wide range of specialist skills for fixing infrastructure and repairing damage.”
He added that the Royal Navy is working with the Jamaican Defence Force and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management to “provide a tangible benefit to Falmouth” and that special attention has been directed to Falmouth Hospital, where the team is helping repair boilers and water systems damaged by flooding.
According to the Royal Navy, HMS Trent’s deployment follows a wider UK relief package that includes over 3,000 shelter kits, 1,500 solar-powered lanterns, and the presence of a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Rapid Deployment Team providing consular assistance to British nationals.
The ship, which replaced her sister vessel HMS Medway in the Caribbean in September, carries rigid inflatable boats and quadbikes for shore operations, as well as drones capable of providing aerial reconnaissance to support local authorities.
So with everything that has beset those poor people in Jamaica, the UK sends a canoe, without helicopter support. Hmmm
No not really.
Her lack of a helo is a huge limitation. The Bay’s are perfect for these type of relief and civilian aid tasks, e.g. Largs Bay in 2020 and Mounts Bay in 2017/18
There always used to be a ‘Bay’ in the vicinity during hurricane season.
It is pure self-delusion to pretend that one small patrol boat, without even a Wildcate, can make a significant contribution to Jamaca’s recovery.
It would be a different story if Albion or Bulwark were available, say funded by the Foreign Aid budget to provide diasaster relief.