The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay was put on standby following last week’s devastating storm, according to Premier Dr. Orlando Smith.
But due to “substantial progress” made in clearing roads and restoring power, the landing ship was stood down and returned to its previous tasking.
Dr. Smith explained on Friday that the government has been communicating with United Kingdom authorities and other regional partners since the storm hit.
“The UK Ministry of Defence immediately put RFA Mounts Bay, including its crew and assets, on standby and instructed the ship to sail closer to BVI to assist if requested to do so,” he said. “But given that our local authorities have made substantial progress in clearing roads and restoring power, and the significant assistance of the community, the ship was stood down and returned to its previous tasking.”
RFA Mounts Bay is a civilian manned landing ship currently tasked with assisting in the event of a natural disaster in any of the British overseas territories in the Caribbean.
On Friday Rex Ward, ship’s communications officer, told the Beacon that it is UK Ministry of Defence policy that crew are not to talk overtly about the ship’s programmes.
“But that said, it is certainly the case that the ship remains on notice to get involved in any rapid-onset crises — especially hurricane disaster relief,” he said. “The decision to commit the ship is made from Whitehall in London and we react to that direction.”
The Mounts Bay is set to spend the next three years in the region helping with disaster relief and counter-narcotics operations.
Spanning 176 metres and weighing more than 16,000 tonnes, the 10-year-old civilian-manned vessel supports a crew of about 160.
It is one of three RFA landing ships owned by the UK’s Ministry of Defence, designed specifically for tactical sealift, routine freighting duties and logistic support.
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