Royal Navy Off-shore Patrol Vessel (OPV) HMS Mersey arrived at Leith, Edinburgh, August 14 to help support naval engagement at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Subject to any operational requirements, HMS Mersey is scheduled to remain alongside Harbour Berth, Leith, until Wednesday, August 22, hosting a range of civic, commercial, industrial and charity sector guests from across the UK prior to attending the Tattoo on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
The vessel, and her compliment of 30 Royal Navy sailors, will also welcome senior naval officers from Bahrain, France, Germany and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the visit, hosting them on board before they attend their respective Tattoo performance to take the “salute”.
In addition to events in support of the Tattoo, during the week-long port visit HMS Mersey’s ship’s company will also welcome visits from the Institute of Directors, Scottish Engineering, prospective naval recruits, career advisors and the local Sea Cadet Units.
Lieutenant Commander Ben Power, Commanding Officer of HMS Mersey, said: “It’s a pleasure to be able to visit Leith particularly when the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is running.
“It’s an important event as it gives the UK’s armed forces an opportunity to demonstrate our values, commitments and capabilities on a world-wide stage.
“Hopefully, by hosting the visits over the next few days, we can show the vital work our Navy is involved with in protecting Britain’s coastline and home waters.”
The Royal Navy’s links with the Forth stretch back over one-hundred years. The Rosyth Royal Dockyard was established on the Firth of Forth in 1909 and was a major maintenance and operating base throughout the two World Wars and the Cold War.
The site continues to refit the Royal Navy’s mine hunters and the new Queen Elizabeth-class Aircraft Carriers – HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – were assembled in its dry docks.
