British Royal Navy Minehunter Visits Douglas Harbour

2nd December 2022

The Royal Navy's HMS Brocklesby berthed in Douglas Harbour today, noting another former vessel of the class, HMS Ramsey was named after the harbour town to the north of the Manx capital. Also in port today, AFLOAT adds is the Isle of Man Steam Packet's fastcraft Mannanan which also has a naval connection with a previous owner when chartered to the US navy, prior to the Steam-Packet acquiring the ferry in 2009. On Wednesday, the fastcraft came out of winter layover to make a brief non-commercial call to Dublin Port on Wednesday. The reason was to enable crew to reach their required pilotage hours. Credit: ManxRadio-facebook

A British Royal Navy minehunter HMS Brocklesby, Manx Radio reports had arrived in Douglas Harbour today.

It was a morning arrival for the Royal Navy minehunter to the Manx capital as the visiting vessel berthed alongside the harbour's Victoria Pier.

HMS Brocklesby is a 'Hunt' class mine-counter measures vessel (MCMV) which has the primary purpose to neutralise mines at sea.

This involves locating and neutralising sea mines using a combination of sonar, mine clearance divers and use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) the 'Seafox'.
The minehunter's homeport is Portsmouth, the the UK's biggest naval base.

Another former member of the Hunt-class, HMS Atherstone, Afloat reported earlier this year when Harland & Wolff acquired from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a view to refurbishing it for non-military uses.

Afloat also adds that HMS Brocklesby made a first visit to Dublin Port which took place in 1995 whereas HMS Ramsey paid a visit more recently in 2016.

Published in Isle of Man

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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