Mission accomplished!
Published:Sunday | June 19, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Crew members of the HMS York took their positions, their mission, should they choose to accept, was to entertain guests on board the vessel. Mission accomplished!
The crew of the United Kingdom's Type 42 Destroyer were in the island recently, along with another UK vessel, the Royal Auxiliary Fleet's (RFA) Wave Ruler, both on different missions. So the British High Commission wanted to give guests (including British nationals residing in Jamrock) a chance to see the York and threw a reception aboard the vessel on Thursday, June 9. Both ships were docked at the Kingston Container Terminal and port security personnel transported guests from the main gate to the HMS York.
Guests were smartly saluted upon boarding. Like true sailors, the crew was ready for any potential rainy conditions, making sure the reception area on the main deck was fully covered. But fortunately, the heavy rains that had plastered the Corporate Area had had their fill. Guests instantly connected with the friendly crew and were pleasantly surprised to see good Jamaican Appleton Estate among the cocktails on offer.
Type 42 Destroyers form the backbone of the Royal Navy's anti-air capability. Equipped with medium-range air defence missile system, their primary role is to provide area air defence to a group of ships, although it is also effective against surface targets at sea. In addition to being an air-defence platform, the ships operate independently, carrying out patrol and boarding operations.
The HMS York is on its way back home, while the RFA Wave Ruler continues it tour of duty.