HMS Trent joined her NATO allies to ensure the Mediterranean remains safe for all those at sea.
The Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel has spent weeks on Operation Sea Guardian – a year-round commitment to deter, disrupt and defend against terrorism, smuggling and illegal activity in the region.
It is a role many UK ships take on when transiting the Med and sees them working with navies from a range of counties.
Currently, Greece’s navy flagship Spetsai is leading the operation with Trent offering support along with Bulgarian ship Smeli and Greek and Turkish submarines.
Maritime patrol and airborne early warning aircraft from Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the US are also contributing to the focused patrol.
While on Sea Guardian, HMS Trent has also ensured her sailors are ready for any eventuality undergoing a series of training exercises. They launched her sea boat for man overboard training and did machinery breakdown drills.
Their time at sea also gave the ship’s warfare Young Officers the chance to conduct navigation training through the Straits of Messina (between the toe of Italy and Sicily) and Bonifacio (between Corsica and Sardinia).
Sub-Lieutenant Dominic Olivier, 24, from Essex, said: “Being on HMS Trent for my Specialist Fleet Time is an excellent opportunity as it is a great ship for me to conduct the training I need to become an Officer of the Watch and its programme is perfect for supporting me and helping me develop my real world skills.”
Earlier in her deployment, a routine stop in Gibraltar gave Trent’s sailors the chance to offer some help to the Gibraltar Naval Trust.
Four of the ship’s company helped the manager of the new Wessex House by sorting and lifting furniture in preparation for its opening. It will replace the former Britannia House – providing short-term accommodation for service personnel, their families and veterans.
Sub Lieutenant Ben Hoffmeister, 23, from London, said: “It was a pleasure to be able to lend a helping hand to the Gibraltar Naval Trust as they provide support to navy personnel when they are based here in Gibraltar.”
HMS Trent also met up with Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon which spent three months in the Mediterranean as part of the Royal Navy’s amphibious task group.
After leaving flagship HMS Albion, Dragon conducted some training with Trent before sailing back to her home port of Portsmouth last week.
