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UK Ship en route to VI for disaster preparedness mission

A UK Royal Navy patrol ship, the HMS Medway will reportedly visit Tortola from October 22, 2021, as part of the United Kingdom’s Caribbean Task Group’s mission to prepare for and respond to disasters in the region. Photo: GIS
VI Governor, H.E John J. Rankin, CMG said the team will also meet with key partners in the VI. Photo: VINO/File
VI Governor, H.E John J. Rankin, CMG said the team will also meet with key partners in the VI. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – A UK Royal Navy patrol ship, the HMS Medway will reportedly visit Tortola from October 22, 2021, as part of the United Kingdom’s Caribbean Task Group’s mission to prepare for and respond to disasters in the region.

VI Governor, H.E John J. Rankin, CMG said,  “The team aboard HMS Medway are visiting the VI to meet key partners and to ensure that they can respond in the most effective way to meet the Territory’s greatest needs following a disaster.”

Information on the mission indicated that thetas Group works with the six UK Overseas Territories in the region and with other regional partners, to prepare for and respond to national disasters.

This includes planning and training to develop capacity and disaster relief capabilities during the peak hurricane season.

 “The safety and security of the people of the Virgin Islands is my top priority and I am pleased that we are able to have this exercise. Some of the Task Group’s capabilities will be on show during the visit. More details will be released in the coming days,” the Governor said.

Team to meet with DDM & other agencies 

While in port, the crew will provide a capability demonstration and meet with officials from the Department of Disaster Management and other key agencies to determine how they can best work together and support the Territory in the wake of a hurricane or other natural disaster.

Commander of the Task Group, Brian Trim said, “We are really looking forward to our visit. While we have worked in partnership with Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the last few months, this will be our first chance this year to work with the VI.”

Trim continued, “The people of the VI know very well, working together is the key to success after a hurricane. I am sure we can learn a great deal through our cooperation during this visit.”

The Task Group also consists of the support ship Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Wave Knight and its Wildcat HMA2 helicopter, along with the Crisis Response Troop drawn from 24 Commando Royal Engineers. 

33 Responses to “UK Ship en route to VI for disaster preparedness mission ”

  • Really Now? (17/10/2021, 09:18) Like (12) Dislike (48) Reply
    Now they are coming after the hurricane season for disaster preparedness? The UK does not care about the BVI.
    • lol (17/10/2021, 10:16) Like (39) Dislike (2) Reply
      You can’t fix stupid. There are more disasters than hurricanes. Disaster preparedness is year round work.
      • @LOL (17/10/2021, 11:02) Like (29) Dislike (2) Reply
        You sure as heck can’t fix stupidity. Person seem to think hurricanes is the only thing that falls under disasters. For bid if we get hit by a massive earthquake, are we prepared? NO.
      • lol (17/10/2021, 16:50) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
        RFA Hickenbottom and RFA Rawat are already in town dealing with a whole heap of other disasters
    • frog (17/10/2021, 13:41) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
      You prepare for disasters all year round. That’s why it’s called “preparedness “.
  • Eagle vision (17/10/2021, 09:37) Like (37) Dislike (16) Reply
    It is not for natural disaster.....it is preparation for the the takeover!!!
    • @eagle vision (17/10/2021, 13:43) Like (15) Dislike (9) Reply
      What take over. They have always been in control. We just like spiked kids pretending we the boss.
  • opessers up to something (17/10/2021, 09:59) Like (16) Dislike (17) Reply
    hope this is not an invasion to take over the BVI
  • Whoo whooo (17/10/2021, 10:01) Like (27) Dislike (6) Reply
    Thank you, welcome, much needed. Glad to see you.
  • WELCOME (17/10/2021, 10:31) Like (27) Dislike (6) Reply
    Your services is very much needed.
  • don't mind them (17/10/2021, 10:45) Like (11) Dislike (15) Reply
    BAD NEWS! THE UK COMING TO TAKE OVER
  • Hahahaha. No Joke Though (17/10/2021, 10:59) Like (20) Dislike (9) Reply
    This maybe part of the take over strategy.. Have security ready for any Riots...U K need not wory about Riots, it will be a very small few...80 - 90% of us welcome a short Britain take over,, Sort out things, make wrong right, get things in order then hand it back to us...
  • cnn (17/10/2021, 11:19) Like (3) Dislike (18) Reply
    The uk playing games again not good
  • huh (17/10/2021, 13:15) Like (1) Dislike (15) Reply
    Funny they use these ships as a publicity stunt and passive aggressive provocation so commonly that people don’t believe it’s for disaster preparedness anymore. It’s another version of the boy who cried wolf. Quite sad.
  • thank you (17/10/2021, 13:23) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    it will be great to see them again, this time we have the time to say thank you for your service and for helping us in our time of need in September 2017
  • fromafar (17/10/2021, 14:48) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    thank you for what? you sound like very loyal, but speak for yourself , opportunist.
    • ok (17/10/2021, 20:57) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      thank them for restoring power, thank them for bringing supplies, thank them for letting me use a sat phone to call and let people know I was alive. Thats what I have to thank them for, as all the government did was send a boat with body bags....
  • From BKPL (17/10/2021, 14:48) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Uk cannot take over the BVI.The BVI is UK property and governed by a UK appointed governor.The Premier is the leader of the government.
    What is the fight about uk want to take over?
    We in uk country.
  • You so stupid. (17/10/2021, 14:51) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Medway is the Caribbean patrol ship. It's been out here for months. This stop is R&R. Go look at her page in the Navy Website. Geez.
    HMS Medway Crest
    HMS MEDWAY (P223)
    HMS Medway (P223) is currently on deployment

    Atlantic Patrol Tasking North

    Caribbean

    Get help understanding deployment

    GET HELP

    Facts & figures

    Facts & figures
    2,000 tonnes
    Total displacement

    90.5 metres
    Total length

    24+ knots
    Top speed

    Our operations
    Our base
    Commanding Officer
    Lieutenant Commander Jim Blythe
    Jim Blythe joined Britannia Royal Naval College as a Naval College Entrant in January 1998. After initial training, he completed sea training in HMS Birmingham and HMS Brave, prior to successful completion of X Course at HMS Dryad. Jim qualified as an Air Warfare Officer in December 2012 and joined HMS Dauntless as the Operations Officer. During the next 16 months he was involved in the first Type 45 MP3 and Capability Upgrade Period and the force generation for an East of Suez Deployment.

    Photograph of Lieutenant Commander Jim Blythe
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    HMS Medway's role
    Since the beginning of 2020, HMS Medway has been deployed to the Caribbean as the Royal Navy’s permanent presence in the region.

    She provides support to Britain’s Overseas Territories in the region, acting as a reassuring presence, providing support and humanitarian aid in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster and, working side-by-side with regional law enforcement, helping to stop the flow of illegal drugs from South America to Europe and North America.
  • mah (17/10/2021, 15:02) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Really Now, The hurricane season ends at the end of November.
  • You guys will not believe this (17/10/2021, 16:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Laughing sooo hard, Three people that I know disturb me out of my nice Sunday morning sleep all panic about the UK is comming for us. Laughing , I’m like coming for who? They are not coming for me because I did nothing wrong so why worry about it.
  • Wonder (17/10/2021, 16:02) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    if the great britain seriously wants to return and resume management of the territory do you think stupid levels of conversation can prevent them

  • Happy (17/10/2021, 18:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    all ayo above running scared....
  • All in All (17/10/2021, 18:14) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    People is starting to panic thinking the UK IS ON SOME TYPE OF TAKE OVER MISSION. TAKE OVER WHAT, THE UK ALREADY OWNS THE BVI.
  • Oxa (17/10/2021, 18:16) Like (5) Dislike (9) Reply
    The hurricane season is almost over and they sending a ship after the facts. Be wise. Who the hell they fooling. This is preparation for the take over. Believe it
    • @Oxa (17/10/2021, 19:59) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Can you please explain what take over you are talking about? Here we go, in panic mode for no reason. And if they take over, it is what it is. For whatever reason they are here it is a good thing. I WELCOME THEM.MAYBE THEIR PRESENCE WILL KEEP THE DRUG AND HUMAN SMUGGLERS AT BAY.
  • B is 4 BRITISH VI (17/10/2021, 18:40) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    SO MUCH PEOPLE DISCOVERING ( RACISM) BUT THEY GETTING SELECTIVE AMNESIA OVER NIGHT
  • reerfgdfgdf (17/10/2021, 18:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

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  • Lilly pad (18/10/2021, 00:25) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    Floating cocktail bar , borrowed helicopter, possible drone deployments.
  • HMP (18/10/2021, 09:11) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    It’s crazy some people forget the British don’t own us they owe us. The time of owning people is over. Plain and simple. After being brought here our ancestors had no where to go it’s their responsibility after becoming rich off slavery to be a helping hand but right now it’s obstacle after obstacle.

    The last ship was a part of the jaspert drama to make it seem as if we could not handle the pandemic. They were very upset that the law allowed the health minister to lead our Covid response.

    They said we had enough money that we don’t need their money. Remember that????

    all of this is backed by those higher up jaspert is the fall man to save their racist motivations.

    Name one way that the UK is helping us advance with speed into prosperity. We probably wouldn’t have a local college if it were up to them. I’m tired of the smoke and mirrors.


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