British Navy lands on Cayman beach

| 10/07/2017 | 37 Comments
Cayman News Service

Royal Navy heavy equipment lands on Seven Mile Beach

(CNS): The Royal Engineers aboard the RFA Mounts Bay demonstrated how quickly and efficiently they can unload heavy equipment and supplies and set up a command post, if needed in the wake of a natural disaster, during a special exercise at the weekend. Military and other disaster equipment rolled up on onto the soft sands of Seven Mile Beach after the crew rolled out a special landing ramp and then drove the heavy equipment off a small barge-landing dock from the naval vessel.

The ship was described by the senior officers on board as the most capable disaster response vessel anywhere, and during a day of showcasing it Friday, the crew of the 16,000-ton RFA ship made the rescue mission drill look easy.

The Cayman Islands is the first port of call for the summer deployment of the RFA Mounts Bay to the Caribbean and Captain Christopher Clarke said the primary purpose is for security reassurance to the British Overseas Territories in this region and disaster relief in the case of any other disaster. The ship will also be involved in counter-narcotic operations while remaining on alert to be deployed anywhere in the world should conflict break out.

Cayman News Service

View of the landing from the air

Seven Mile Beach was identified by the Royal Engineers as a suitable place to deploy kit in the event of a disaster and they showed just how quickly they were able to unload and reload the kit in a demonstration Friday watched by onlookers on the beach, local officials and press.

As well as bringing supplies and much-needed heavy equipment, the crew is also capable of providing temporary construction support, and with qualified carpenters, electricians, plumbers and plant operators among the crew, they can clear rubble and debris and make repairs to storm damaged buildings.

Local officials here explained that the exercise helped them understand exactly what the UK  military personnel can do and also gives the crew an opportunity to understand what equipment and contingency plans Hazard Management Cayman Islands has as well.  

Following the beach exercise, a team of Royal Engineers also visited HMP Northward to begin a project with the prison service clearing vegetation around the jail to prevent smugglers hiding in the bush and throwing contraband over the fence.

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Comments (37)

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  1. Neville says:

    In case you hadnt noticed, the island of GCM has already been invaded. By Americans.
    Now you have very little in the way of British things left,only the caring nature of the locals.
    If you are British, visiting this island is an eye opener. Public access beaches on SMB are some kind of joke, the public parts being eaten away by large hotel chains moving ever closer to the waters edge. Local government needs to take back control before the place is ruined for good.

    • Anonymous says:

      So you want to return to the time before the “American invasion”? Men at sea and women making rope. Go for it.

  2. Anonymous says:

    maybe they need employ some of these unemployed caymanians on these war ships?

  3. Anonymous says:

    Preparing for terrorists! Possible ISIS! Let’s all build dooms day bunker ASAP! LOL

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  4. Anonymous says:

    I wouldn’t believe they were any part of the Royal Navy. Ran into a few at an ocean front bar and they were extremely rude. Decided they must be independent contractors as the Navy would not behave in the manner that I witnessed. I believe they ended up being cut off and sent on their way.
    These examples were an embarrassment.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Is everyone posting on CNS on drugs this morning?

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Please: it is The Royal Navy, not the British Navy.

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    • Anonymous says:

      And it wasn’t even the Royal Navy, it was the Royal Logics Corps of the British Army.

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    • Paul says:

      It is northern, that is a Mexeflote Raft of 17 Port & Maritime Regiment Royal Logistic Corps of the British Army

    • Anonymous says:

      And it is in fact our navy. The description makes it sound like a foreign navy.

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      • anonymous says:

        “our navy”? Are you nuts? They couldn’t give a monkeys about us any more than we could give a damn about them. Get real.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Ever hear about the Falklands? A large number of young Brits died defending them. Cayman recognized that in 1982 and was grateful. Consider that you arrogant prick!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Well, if we’re being strictly accurate, it wasn’t the Royal Navy, it was a ship from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which is technically a civilian organisation.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    If you believe this is a drill to protect you if a natural disaster happens, then it is time to wake up!

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    • Waking up with Harris says:

      If this drill wasn’t intended for emergency situations then, what was it intended for?

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    • Anonymous says:

      You wake up, they’re coming For you. Quit smoking that stuff its making you para.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Just keep digging that hole 7.34, and when you find Australia, just do us a favour and stay there

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why do you s**t stirrers not just relax and enjoy the good things in your lives. Count your blessings, name them one by one and you will discover how fortunate we all are.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Tin-foil hat alert!

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    • Anonymous says:

      If that’s true, why invade an island that’s already theirs, and why not send a destroyer or a helicopter carrier to send a message. No bobo, the RN don’t need to send such a subtle signal, they could take this place with four drunk Royal Marines and a potato gun.
      You’d have to get out of bed early, get off your phones, get out of the Pattie shop, get motivated and not get paid for it if you think invasion is imminent.
      Nah, that’s never going to happen.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You need to take that tin foil hat off your head!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Are you the guy with the bumper sticker that says that 911 was an inside job.

      • anonymous says:

        No, I’m the mug who forever regrets not buying the bumper sticker at our airport that said “Since I gave up all hope I’ve started to feel a lot better”.

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