New Commanding Officer for HMS Ramsey

Royal Navy mine hunter HMS Ramsey and MCM 1 Crew 1 have a new Commanding Officer with Lieutenant Commander Lee Vessey taking over from Lieutenant Commander Jim Lovell.

The pair officially handed-over on October 31 with Lieutenant Commander Lovell moving on to Portsmouth as Chief of Staff of the Maritime Battlestaff.

Paying tribute to his predecessor, Lieutenant Commander Vessey said, “It is an incredible privilege and responsibility taking command of one of Her Majesty’s ships.

“I am really looking forward to the challenge and hope that I can continue the impressive efforts of Lieutenant Commander Lovell who during his command, operated in the Gulf, ensuring security of the critical sea lanes we rely upon for our imports and exports and our nation’s economy.”

In January this year, HMS Penzance was one of five Royal Navy vessels who joined forces with the United States, Australia, France and Italy for exercises in the Gulf, testing their expertise in locating underwater explosives.

HMS Ramsey is a Sandown Class minehunter, one of seven such vessels that form the First Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1) operating from her homeport of HMNB Clyde, Launched on 25 November 1999, Ramsey was commissioned into the Fleet in September 2000.