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News story: HMS OCEAN ARRIVES IN CARIBBEAN TO BOOST UK DISASTER RELIEF EFFORT

MoD_RSS

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The ship arrived today with around 650 personnel and 60 tonnes of aid including construction equipment and other essential materials such as hygiene kits and water purification tablets.

Ocean’s arrival means there are now over 2,000 UK military personnel working on the relief effort, making it the largest deployment of UK personnel anywhere in the world.

Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, said:


The sight of HMS Ocean dropping anchor in the British Overseas Territories will be welcome respite to those who have seen their islands battered by repeated hurricanes. Ocean will help support the longer-term reconstruction of the Caribbean islands which have been devastated by this unprecedented hurricane season.


The fact that this is our largest operation worldwide underlines the scale of the damage caused and the Government’s commitment to UK citizens spread across the region and in need of our support.

In the coming days she will deliver aid and equipment where it is needed on the islands. She is then due to continue to other territories affected by this month’s storms, as the Department for International Development (DFID) works with the Overseas Territories’ Governments on a long term plan to get the islands back on their feet.

Commanding Officer of HMS Ocean, Captain Robert Pedre Royal Navy, said:


HMS Ocean stands ready to contribute her significant capabilities to the major UK effort already underway to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Caribbean region.


We bring tonnes of aid, significant air and surface lift capacity and hundreds of highly skilled personnel including engineers, logisticians and medical professionals drawn from all three Services. My Ship‘s Company and embarked forces are highly trained and we are ready to make a real difference.

There are considerable military assets in the region supporting UK personnel in the relief effort. RFA Mounts Bay has been in region since July, responding to initial disaster relief effort.

Commanding Officer of RFA Mounts Bay, Captain Stephen Norris, said:


RFA Mounts Bay has been stationed in the Caribbean since July working with the Overseas Territories in preparation for the 2017 Hurricane season. The ships company and embarked forces, made up of disaster relief specialists and equipment, has been providing critical support to the Islands since Irma first struck on the 6th September.


My people have worked tirelessly on the herculean task to assist those effected, and are committed to continuing with the delivery of life supporting aid and to helping the local population with recovery and rebuilding.

There is also a C-130 aircraft and two Chinook helicopters providing tactical airlift operations, three Puma and a Wildcat helicopter conducting reconnaissance flights and helping to deliver supplies and aid. On board, HMS Ocean also carried three Wildcat Mk1, one Merlin Mk2, three Merlin Mk3 and two Chinook helicopters.

The UK has already committed £57m to the relief effort and are matching public commitments to the British Red Cross Appeal up to £3m, and so far 75 tonnes of much-needed humanitarian aid has arrived or been bought in the region.

International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, said:


The UK has acted without hesitation to get the right supplies to those whose lives have been torn apart by these catastrophic hurricanes. With 60 tonnes of aid arriving on HMS Ocean today we are almost doubling the amount of aid from the UK for the worst hit islands.


Ocean is bringing 5,000 hygiene kits, 10,000 water buckets and over 500,000 water purification tablets to provide more than 10 million litres of water, along with more troops to support our aid experts on the ground who are helping restore the lives of those who have lost everything.

There are also six FCO Rapid Deployment Teams in the region to work closely with the governments and 36 DFID aid experts on the ground working on immediate recovery and the long term humanitarian effort.

Continue reading...
 
It is a shame that the BBC and other outlets have missed it. Mind you, the BBC showing interest in the Armed Services/ that would be a novelty anyway
 
It is a shame that the BBC and other outlets have missed it. Mind you, the BBC showing interest in the Armed Services/ that would be a novelty anyway
There was a long report on BBC news channel, interviews with the CO of Ocean, good clips of the lads and lasses doing useful things. Good coverage and excellent PR I thought.
 
I have a different viewpoint. My son was due to join Ocean on her med trip early September. Due to op Ruman he got flown to Bermuda where he has sat doing sod all for over 2 weeks.

Apparently now he has been flown to Tortola awaiting supplies from HMS Ocean. The latest news is that his coy will now rejoin Ocean back on their original deployment.

What a total waste of money and time!
 
I have a different viewpoint. My son was due to join Ocean on her med trip early September. Due to op Ruman he got flown to Bermuda where he has sat doing sod all for over 2 weeks.

Apparently now he has been flown to Tortola awaiting supplies from HMS Ocean. The latest news is that his coy will now rejoin Ocean back on their original deployment.

What a total waste of money and time!
 
I guess these operations involving aid relief are always a bit chaotic, too many willing volunteers but not enough coordination and direction, so needs aren't met and manpower is wasted. Tough and frustrating for those involved.
 
I have a different viewpoint. My son was due to join Ocean on her med trip early September. Due to op Ruman he got flown to Bermuda where he has sat doing sod all for over 2 weeks.

Apparently now he has been flown to Tortola awaiting supplies from HMS Ocean. The latest news is that his coy will now rejoin Ocean back on their original deployment.

What a total waste of money and time!

Careful - It looks like the solution to such wasted money & time is close at hand...

<<...The Royal Marines are facing a cut of 1,000 personnel as the Ministry of Defence seeks savings of up to £3 billion a year, The Times claimed...>>

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/1000-royal-marines-could-sacked-520427
 
I have a different viewpoint. My son was due to join Ocean on her med trip early September. Due to op Ruman he got flown to Bermuda where he has sat doing sod all for over 2 weeks.

Apparently now he has been flown to Tortola awaiting supplies from HMS Ocean. The latest news is that his coy will now rejoin Ocean back on their original deployment.

What a total waste of money and time!
As said above, massive logistic nightmare to change Oceans role from what she was doing to disaster relief, amongst this your son was a porn in a very complex game. I am sure now he is in the right theater of operation the locals will appreciate his help and efforts.
Did he , maybe enjoy his jolly whilst on holdover, in Bermuda?
 
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... son was a porn in a very complex game.

Smell pecker fail.

I have a different viewpoint. My son was due to join Ocean on her med trip early September. Due to op Ruman he got flown to Bermuda where he has sat doing sod all for over 2 weeks.

Hundreds dead, hundreds of thousands across the region are homeless. Your son gets two slack weeks in Bermuda.

Perspective required.
 
Smell pecker fail.
It is a word so bypass's spell checkers, grammar/ correct word checker would help, other than that can be read as given? :rolleyes: grammar police:eek:
Sentiment still there, not a simp!e task to change a vessels direction and purpose at short notice, good effort with a few stragglers eventually catching up.​
 
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