HMS Trent visits Cayman

HMS Trent, a Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, is visiting the Cayman Islands this week from Monday 28th September to Thursday 1st October as part of the Royal Navy’s routine regional presence to support the Overseas Territories during the hurricane season.

Over the course of the visit, HMS Trent’s ship’s company will work alongside the Cayman Islands Regiment, Hazard Management Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands Coast Guard and other local agencies to support contingency planning and strengthen preparedness for any assistance that may be required during an emergency.

The visit will include joint training, briefings and exercises between HMS Trent and local agencies. This will build on joint training carried out last week between the Cayman Islands Regiment, the Cayman Islands Coast Guard, RCIPS Air Operations Unit and HMS Trent’s Crisis Response Troop as part of Operation VENTUS, the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting regional preparedness during the hurricane season. The exercise showcased local capabilities and highlighted the strong partnership between the organisations as they work together to strengthen resilience and emergency response across the Cayman Islands.

The wider programme will also include a meeting between the Governor and the ship’s Lieutenant Commander, Charles Stevenson and several community outreach events including HMP Northward and Cayman Academy for Youth Services (CAYS). 

Her Excellency, Governor Jane Owen, said: “HMS Trent’s presence in the Caribbean demonstrates the UK’s commitment to supporting the Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands, throughout the hurricane season. Equipped with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities, the ship can respond rapidly when needed, complementing Cayman Islands’ own expertise, preparedness and response capabilities.”

Remarking on the joint activities with the Cayman agencies, the Governor noted: “It is also excellent to see Cayman Islands agencies sharing their expertise with colleagues on HMS Trent through joint training activities. These activities demonstrate our local professionalism and capability, while strengthening the close partnership between Cayman Islands agencies and the Royal Navy. By sharing knowledge and experience, all organisations are better prepared to respond together when it matters most.”

Colonel Graham Muir, Commanding Officer of the Cayman Islands Regiment welcomed the training and collaboration opportunities afforded by the ship’s visit.

“HMS Trent’s visit provides an excellent opportunity to continue strengthening our partnership with the UK Armed Forces through the mutual exchange of expertise and experience. Regiment personnel have been delivering training to Royal Navy and British Army personnel embarked aboard HMS Trent, while also sharing in the knowledge and skills of our UK partners. This two-way exchange recognises the growing capabilities of the Cayman Islands Regiment and strengthens our collective readiness to respond to emergencies and support the people of the Cayman Islands when it matters most.”

Lt Cdr Charles Stevenson of HMS HMS Trent added: “This visit is an excellent opportunity to build on the strong partnership between HMS Trent and the Cayman Islands. Meeting the Governor and colleagues from the Cayman Islands Regiment and other local agencies enables us to strengthen the relationships that underpin our collaboration. This mutual understanding is key so that we can maximise the support we provide should it ever need to be called upon. I am also particularly looking forward to our team engaging with the local community, meeting residents, and demonstrating the positive impact of this partnership in practice.”

HMS Trent is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel of the Royal Navy. She is designed for a range of operations including maritime security, counter-narcotics and disaster relief, and forms part of the Royal Navy’s sustained presence in the Caribbean during hurricane season, supporting UK Overseas Territories with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capability when required.