Trouser leg patrol

Since moving on to West Coast patrol Tyne has spent much of the past two months operating in the 'trouser leg', the farthest south west stretch of British Fisheries Limits. These extend approximately 300 miles south west of Lands End in Cornwall. Here she has been concentrating mainly on intercepting fishing vessels known as 'Anglo-Span's'. These are Spanish vessels fishing British waters under a British licence and landing their catch in Spain. Because these vessels operate far offshore and land their catch abroad they can be difficult to regulate, hence the need to patrol so far out to sea. These vessels will occasionally fish large quantities of restricted species such as hake and cover it with a layer of less valuable species and fail to record it properly. The consequence of this is that stocks of over fished species continue to be depleted, eventually to extinction.

Whilst on patrol in the trouser leg FPV's regularly encounter a more diverse range of fishing vessel's and species of fish. At this time of the year for example many of the vessels inspected are fishing for large tuna fish which can be seen as being one or two meters in length and are recorded as being able to grow to more than four meters.

The trouser leg is generally regarded as the more trying of patrols by the ships and their crews. Most of each patrol is spent far out of telephone range and indeed out of sight of land. Here there is no shelter from the strong winds and large seas and over the past few weeks much time has been spent in conditions that make boarding operations impossible to conduct. Such conditions are demanding on both the men and the ship. Thus Octobers three day visit to Liverpool came as a welcome break.

Tyne sailed from Liverpool to proceed back on to West Coast patrol. She embarked Lt Cdr Timon of the Royal Irish Navy so as to exchange ideas and methods on fisheries protection. After a spell in the Celtic Sea Tyne once again headed back down to the trouser leg though again much of the patrol was hampered by poor weather and rough seas.

At the end of the patrol Tyne returned to Portsmouth for a standoff. This was however far from relaxing. It was not only one of the few visits that the Ship makes to her home port, but also the last chance to train a ceremonial guard before the Ship's Company would march through North Shields where she would be granted the Freedom of North Tyneside. This is one of the highest awards that can be bestowed upon a ship of the Fleet. It is a privilege which in days of old formed a contract between the military and the civil authorities of a city or borough such that in exchange for protection the military unit would be able to march freely through the place, bearing arms and flying their colours. Other privileges were also attached such as men being offered accommodation and indeed free beer at the inns!

Following a patrol in the North Sea, Tyne arrived in North Shields on the 19th October. She arrived a day earlier than expected in order to host a conference involving the local fishing community. On the 20th, though a day early, the Officer's sat to Trafalgar Night meal, celebrated each year by the Royal Navy in remembrance of Lord Nelson's great victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This year is particularly significant, being the 200th Anniversary and on the day itself many of Tyne's Ships Company were involved in events staged locally as a part of wider national celebrations. OM's Williams and Armstrong escorted the Captain who lit in the areas beacon and afterwards the Captain and First Lieutenant attended a meal hosted by Tynemouth Village Association.

On the Saturday came the big event of receiving the Freedom of North Tyneside. The parade went extremely well and made its appearance on the regional BBC news. The proclamation was read and presented by the Chair of North Tyneside, Councillor Marion Huscroft and then the Guard fixed bayonets, the Colour was unfurled and the Ship's Company marched through the streets of Tyneside to the tune of the pipes and drums. On completion a reception was held and Tyne's Ships Company celebrated in the customary naval manner!

On Tyne's sailing from North Shields the First Lieutenant, Gunnery Officer and a detachment of the Ships Company remained behind in order to take part in another parade. The parade was one commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar and all those who died there. This was a large parade with near 100 people marching from various units, with Tyne's detachment leading. This was a particularly significant occasion for the local community with emphasis placed on Admiral Collingwood, Nelson's Second in Command who sailed in Royal Soverign. Collingwood lead the second line of ships in to the Battle of Trafalgar and his ship was the first British ship to open fire on the enemy. Collingwood was born in Newcastle and grew up in the Tyneside area. His monument stands high on a hill overlooking Tyneside and the mouth of the River Tyne and aptly is used by HMS Tyne as a navigational aid as she enters and leaves the River. The parade marched to a church service held at the castle ruins which was attended by not only many of the local community and their representatives in Government, but also a number of Collingwood's descendants. It ended at Collingwood's Monument where the First Lieutenant laid a garland on behalf of Tyne.

Tyne herself put to sea that day bound for London in order to rendezvous with the Norwegian Royal Yacht with His Highness the King of Norway embarked. Tyne berthed alongside HMS President overnight and then sailed before sunrise the following morning in order to formally escort the Royal Yacht and the Norwegian Navy Mine Hunter Rauma from Greenwich and up the Thames to Tower Bridge. Tyne herself carried on under Tower Bridge and tied up alongside HMS Belfast, a World War Two cruiser which was involved in many great battles, including in the sinking of the Scharnhorst.

Whilst alongside in London Tyne held a busy programme. On the second night the Officers were delighted to host a select group from her new affiliation, the Worshipful Company of Butchers and the following day the Officers were treated to a sumptuous luncheon of beef in the Worshipful Company's beautiful Great Hall. Tyne was honoured to be able to take four members to sea for the trip down the River Thames and round to Portsmouth. Tyne was also privileged to host the Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingham and show him around the ship.

Tyne has now returned to her home port of Portsmouth for some much needed maintenance after a punishing period at sea. From here she begins preparations for the coming Squadron Exercises and ultimately for Operational Sea Training in the New Year.