MERSEY BEAT

MERSEY HELPS LAUNCH 2011 POPPY APPEAL

HMS MERSEY took a break from her core fishery protection duties this month to pay

an important four day visit to London. More frequently seen amongst fishing vessels

around the UK than amongst the towering office blocks of Canary Wharf, the River

Class Patrol Vessel was in the capital to play a key role in the launch of the Royal

British Legion Poppy Appeal for 2011.

Wednesday morning saw the first stage of MERSEY’s involvement in the Poppy

Appeal as Std Zoe Braithwaite was on hand to help London Mayor Boris Johnson

launch fundraising efforts in the capital alongside personnel from the other services at

City Hall. The Mayor said: “I urge everyone to dig as deep in their pockets as they

can to support London Poppy Day.”

Std Zoe Braithwaite joins London Mayor Boris Johnson at the Official Launch

MERSEY was berthed in West India Dock in the shadow of Canary Wharf for the duration of her stay and it was against this backdrop on Wednesday evening that she played host to 65 guests from the worlds of business, finance and the law as well as senior officers from the three services and representatives from the Royal British Legion. (Continued p2)

NOVEMBER 2011

NEW FACES AT NUMBER 10

Whilst much of the visit to London was taken up working towards the launch of the Poppy Appeal the Ship’s Company still found time to do some pretty impressive sightseeing. A group from MERSEY were lucky enough to be invited to visit Number 10 Downing Street for a photo opportunity and guided tour. The trip certainly lived up to expectations and was enjoyed by all who attended.

MERSEY Ship’s Company visit Number 10

Not satisfied with one impressive landmark, another group from MERSEY visited the Houses of Parliament as well as getting a VIP

tour behind the scenes of the stables at Horse Guards Parade. The chance to meet the horses and the men of the Household Cavalry and learn about the work that goes into both their everyday duties and ceremonial occasions was fascinating.

Ship’s Company at the Houses Of Parliament

ABOUT MERSEY MERSEY is one of three ships which make

up the RN’s Fishery Protection Squadron

enforcing UK and EU fisheries legislation in

order to ensure the long term sustainability

of the UK fishing grounds. In addition, the

three UK based Ships are the only warships

on permanent patrol around the UK,

contributing to the policing of UK waters

and delivering an intrinsic element of the

UK’s Maritime Security.

COMING UP… The next month sees MERSEY pay a visit to North Shields for a well earned (albeit short) break before resuming Fishery Protection Patrols off the East Coast. A period of Directed Continuation Training then follows where staff from Flag Officer Sea Training will put the team through their paces in a variety of areas. The run up to Christmas promises to be enjoyable with a visit to Edinburgh to round off a successful year for the ship.

MERSEY HELPS LAUNCH 2011 POPPY APPEAL (CONTINUED FROM P1)

All the invited guests had pledged to play an important role in supporting the launch of the Poppy Appeal in the London area and it was a great opportunity to bring people from a wide variety of fields together united by their support for the same cause. Guests learnt more about the role of MERSEY and the Royal Navy in general throughout the evening. They were hosted by the Ship’s Company, given tours of the ship and demonstrations of fire fighting and damage control as well as being treated to the pleasure of ceremonial sunset and the Royal Marines Corps of Drums to bring the night to a close. The evening was thoroughly well received by all who attended and provided the perfect launch pad for the monumental fundraising effort the next day.

HMS MERSEY’s Guard of Honour The view from the cocktail party Ceremonial Sunset

Thursday morning started bright and early for the Ship’s Company with a team descending on the bustling Billingsgate Fish Market

at 5am, the early start was more than rewarded by the generosity of the stallholders and customers who helped get the day off to a

fantastic start. Throughout the morning groups from MERSEY were joined by soldiers from the Royal Engineers and civilian

volunteers as they took full advantage of the rush hour footfall in the Canary Wharf Underground and local DLR stations. Lunchtime

brought the band of the Royal Ghurka Rifles to Canada Square where teams from MERSEY were on hand to collect yet more

donations from the crowds who gathered to take in the musical spectacle.

Efforts continued throughout the afternoon as fundraising moved into the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre, including the support of

former heavyweight champion David Haye who was signing copies of his book nearby. Ship’s Company were kindly invited into the

offices of Morgan Stanley and Barclays and navigated the numerous floors inviting donations from the generous workers at both

companies. As the working day came to a close and people descended into the tube stations and to the bars and restaurants

around Canary Wharf the sailors, soldiers and civilian volunteers put in a last push to drive the fundraising total as high as possible.

As the efforts of the day concluded we received word that the total raised had passed that of the same day last year for Canary

Wharf, this was welcome news and put the icing on the cake for everyone involved after what had been a thoroughly rewarding day.

Fundraising teams from around the capital united at Leadenhall Market later in the evening for celebratory drinks and fish and chips,

sharing stories of generosity and kindness on the part of all who had donated and supported the Poppy Appeal throughout the day.

Word reached the teams that efforts in Canary Wharf had taken the total for the day past £45,000 – a truly sensational effort by all

involved.

Ship’s Company join an Army Piper at Canary Wharf Underground

Ship’s Company on the early morning shift at Billingsgate Fish Market

MERSEY RESCUES YACHTSMAN FROM INFERNO HMS MERSEY was on routine fishery protection duties off the Yarmouth coast when she heard a frantic mayday call

from the yacht Pimpernel. Information was limited; the only known facts were that the vessel was on fire and that it

was possibly in the area. Working with other vessels in the vicinity to identify the location of the yacht, MERSEY

responded and raced to the scene to offer assistance. En route, the Ship’s Company prepared fire fighting, first aid

and search and rescue teams ready to assist.

MERSEY’s sea boat recovers the yachstman to the safety of the ship

With nothing heard from the vessel since the original mayday call, fears were growing for those onboard. On nearing

the stricken yacht the scale of the blaze was clear, flames rose metres in the air and explosions were visible from a

number of miles away. Once on scene it was clear the yacht had been destroyed, whilst flaming wreckage still

remained on the surface the focus for the ship turned to searching for survivors.

MV Highland Champion attempts to douse the flames of the burning wreckage

Within minutes of starting the search and using night vision goggles MERSEY’s 2nd

Officer of the Watch, Midshipman

Phillip Fordham RN, spotted a glint of something in the distance a couple of miles from the remains of the burning

yacht and one of MERSEY’s two fast sea boats equipped with a first aid team was immediately vectored onto the sole

occupant of the yacht floating in a partially inflated and unlit life raft. He had been sailing alone from Lowestoft to his

native Holland when the fire took hold and he was forced to abandon ship. Picked up by the crew of the seaboat, he

was given blankets and first aid and brought back to MERSEY. Onboard the ship’s first aid teams assessed his

condition and found him to be in a state of shock and cold, but otherwise unhurt.

The yachtsman was cared for onboard until a rescue helicopter arrived on scene a short time later, he was winched

from the cargo deck to safety and transported to hospital in Great Yarmouth for further assessment.

HMS MERSEY’s Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Mark Anderson RN said “I am immensely proud of how my Ship’s Company responded to this distress call in challenging conditions. The ship was able to re-role from our core fishery protection duties to search and rescue operations in a matter of minutes. I am pleased that we were able to rescue the casualty from the water and render first aid treatment as the yachtsman was in a perilous situation and understandably in a state of some shock but should make a full recovery.”

COMMODORE COCHRANE VISITS MERSEY

Commodore The Hon. Michael Cochrane OBE Royal Navy, the incoming Commodore Portsmouth Flotilla (COMPORFLOT) visited

MERSEY recently in one of his first visits since taking over the role. As COMPORFLOT, Commodore Cochrane is responsible for all

Portsmouth based RN ships including MERSEY and the 2 other River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels that make up the Fishery

Protection Squadron.

Arriving by pilot launch, Commodore Cochrane was able to witness the boarding of a stern trawler operating in the Eastern Solent

as an illustration of MERSEY’s capability and core tasking. The Commodore met with many of the Ship’s Company, but for one in

particular this was an occasion to remember. Petty Officer Den Hawkley was recently awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct

Medal in recognition of his dedicated service to the Royal Navy and whilst onboard Commodore Cochrane took the opportunity to

present him with his award.

Throughout the visit COMPORFLOT spent time in the various messes onboard, whilst in the Senior Rates Mess he was treated to a

demonstration of new cutting edge technology for the RN in the form of the ship’s new 3D television. MERSEY’s Commanding

Officer, Lt Cdr Mark Anderson said of the visit, “to host the new Commodore on effectively his first day in office is a privilege for

HMS MERSEY and it was good for all ranks and rates to have the opportunity for discussions with him such that he can be fully

appraised of the issues we face as a member of his flotilla.

PO Hawkley is awarded his LSGC Medal

Commodore Cochrane samples 3D TV

SURPRISE GUEST PAYS A FLYING VISIT

One might expect to encounter a variety of wildlife on Fish Patrol but when a new feathered guest appeared on the

foc’sle this month he caught more than a few people by surprise. Named LEO by the Ship’s Company (it stands for

Long Eared Owl, but more on that later), he found a comfortable resting spot amongst the various ropes and

machinery on the bow which frankly don’t look all too appealing to most of us. LEO appears to be of the Asio Otus

species, more commonly known by their distinctive feature as the Long Eared Owl. Normally found in forests and

known to migrate south for the winter, it remains a mystery how LEO came to land on MERSEY. If it was a taxi ride

south he was after he will be sadly disappointed as he joined us for the journey from London to North Shields.

LEO in his various resting places onboard MERSEY