Royal Navy ship offers back-up for storm season
(CNS): The Royal Navy vessel HMS Trent arrived in Cayman waters on Friday after Governor Jane Owen, on behalf of the National Hazard Management Executive, made an official request for assistance in the face of Hurricane Beryl’s projected arrival. While the support was not needed this time, the vessel has been deployed in the region while HMS Medway, which usually patrols the Caribbean in hurricane season, undergoes maintenance.
While the ship was here, the Cayman Islands Regiment and Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) coordinated a tour for the crew to review the islands’ infrastructure, visit key points for deployment and analyse capabilities.
“It was a pleasure meeting with Lieutenant Commander Shelton and others to understand the specialisations of the crew members aboard HMS Trent,” Owen said. “I am more than confident that although we were spared from Hurricane Beryl, their arrival was perfectly timed and allowed us a rare opportunity to build relationships with the crew for future recovery and restoration.”
HMS Trent was stationed near Puerto Rico when the ship was asked to come to the Cayman Islands. The crew had recently completed a training exercise ashore and were placed on alert for British Overseas Territories as Hurricane Beryl became a category 3 storm and headed past the Windward Islands.
“Trent remains at high readiness to support our Overseas Territories in the event of hurricane or storm damage,” said Commanding Officer Tim Langford. “Having operated in the Caribbean since December last year, we are fully prepared to deliver aid and assistance when called upon.”
The visit shifted from relief to knowledge-building and gave the crew a chance to develop situational awareness and strategic relationships in the event that HMS Trent or Medway needed to return to the Cayman Islands under more austere circumstances in the future.
“The visit of the captain and crew of HMS Trent to the Cayman Islands highlights the vital importance of international collaboration in enhancing our national resilience,” said Home Affairs Minister Sabrina Turner. “By maintaining strong partnerships such as these, we are better equipped to ensure public safety and respond effectively to major disasters. This engagement exemplifies our commitment to fostering cooperative relationships that bolster Cayman’s preparedness and fortify our capacity to protect and serve our communities.”
Before departing Cayman, the ship sailed to Cayman Brac to meet with Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and District Commissioner Mark Tibbetts.
“The visit of HMS Trent was indeed reassuring, and it is a testament to our modern UK/Cayman partnership,” the premier said. “We were able to visit the various infrastructure on the Brac, as well as discuss our level of preparedness. Truly, we are blessed, and the passing of Hurricane Beryl was a reminder of this.”
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Category: Local News
I got up one Saturday and looked out to sea, and was comforted by the sight of the HMS Trent sailing a gentle loop between Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. I thought it was a mid-sized ship very close, and I guessed it at 30 meters.
Not even close. 90.5 meters. I was an still am comforted by the presence of the HMS Trent.
For those so comforted, wtf is it doing gently cruising the Western Caribbean while Grenada is reeling?
If you should choose to research rather than troll, you can easily discover the mission of the Trent, its small crew and their responsibilities. It is a River-class warship on patrol.
Modern U.K./Cayman partnership! I am now in my seventies and fondly remember the British warships frequent visits. It was’nt just during hurricanes! Back then the students has the opportunity to visit the ships and given tours onboard by the sailors. The Premier’s comment made it sound like it is just happening. Madam, where have you been?
“Performative” OT oversight. Theatre for the most part.
A bit late. Why are these resources on regional tour, and not steaming at flank speed, or on station in Carriacou? What is the point of pretending to assist BOTs and Commonwealth with storm recovery while those already decimated lay elsewhere? Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up.
Grenada wanted independence, let them have it. They can call Cuba if they need help.
Grenada are still part of the much-touted Commonwealth “realm”, and King Charles is still their monarch. I guess that counts for nothing for those that failed civics class. The UK also stood aside and allowed Cuba to invade them. One would hope the UK would leap at the opportunity to make up for lost historical missteps, instead making new ones.
Someone thinks they can have their cake and eat it too.
Because we are British and we love ❤️ to see the British ships in our waters. If and when we need them they will be here. In the meantime thank God for small mercies!
Seems they were “backed up by Beryl”, but never mind, the thought was there, better late than never.
didn’t mac turn down their help after ivan and prevent journalists from comiung here cos he didn’t want the world to know cayman had been trashed….
Like it or not, that was a good move for the finance industry.
Pretending can only take you so far.!
Mac sent a shot across the Imperial Masters bow in 2004 , whilst that was unwarranted it did demonstrate Caymans resilience .
20 years later he is still demonstrating something like Teflon coated resilience…for himself .
Mac is stupid, please don’t waste our precious air on him.
No. Mac didn’t refuse help. He did say that all we got were “horse blankets and rat poison”.
The blame for stupidly refusing Ivan help from. overseas was like a pat on the head.. Not even Queen Elizabeth could understand that.
Mac will never let them come.
Especially now that he is blaming them for his last episode. Imbecile!