Shipping: Frigate crew enjoy some R&R

The crew of HMS Argyll rolled into Bermuda this week to enjoy some sun and sea before heading off on their latest Caribbean deployment.

The Royal Navy’s longest-serving Type-23 frigate arrived at Dockyard’s commercial berth on Monday.

But she quickly moved to Hamilton for her three-day rest and relaxation stay.

Argyll is set to leave the island tomorrow, bound for the Caribbean.

The ship was last in Bermuda at the end of August 2013, after a string of counter narcotics operations in the Eastern Pacific.

She was built in the late 1980s at the Yarrow Yard on the Clyde in Scotland and underwent a $30 million refit in Rosyth between 2009 and 2010.

The frigate then returned to service in the Gulf before heading back to her home waters in 2012 again for a major upgrade of all her systems.

She is now one of the most up-to-date and capable frigates in the naval fleet.

Before leaving the UK on June 20, HMS Argyll’s captain, Commander Paul Hammond, told www.royalnavy.mod.uk: “As we sail from Plymouth, we can reflect on nine months of hard work in preparation for this deployment, in which my ship’s company have achieved fantastic results. 

“Deploying on operations marks the beginning of another fresh challenge for Argyll that will see us deliver real benefit to both the Caribbean and the UK.” 

Today the West End greets its regular two cruise callers, the Breakaway and the Summit.

Tankers

And it’s a full house later this week in Dockyard with three liners in town over the course of the weekend.

Meanwhile, the East End has seen two tankers, Indian Point and Oder Gas, call in this week to replenish the island’s fuel supplies.

Finally, the Bermuda Islander is back in Hamilton tomorrow, and the Oleander makes up the schedule as usual, arriving into the capital on Sunday afternoon.