RFA Argus deployed in Caribbean in preparation for hurricanes and Covid-19
6 April 2020
Royal Fleet Auxiliary naval support ship RFA Argus has set sail for the Caribbean in preparation to support the British Overseas Territories where required during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as carry out its normal hurricane season duties.
RFA Argus' deployment to the Caribbean had been scheduled for the hurricane season but will now be able to play a part in ensuring the UK Government is ready to support the Overseas Territories during the pandemic.
The ship's commanding officer Captain Terence Barke said: 'RFA Argus' ship's company, consisting of both Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Royal Navy personnel, will rise to this challenge. We understand that there are people in need in the UK Overseas Territories who require our support.'
Minister of State for Defence Jeremy Quinn, responsible for the Overseas Territories, said: 'The Armed Forces are taking decisive and coordinated action both at home and overseas to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak. The Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary have worked hard to ensure that RFA Argus is ready for the hurricane season in the Caribbean and now also able to support the UK's Overseas Territories during the pandemic.'
Tags
More articles
Nautilus FAQs on Covid-19 Coronavirus
Ships' horns sound for key workers across UK waters
Ships' horns sounded in unison across UK ports and sea crossings on Thursday 2 April 2020, in what has become a weekly UK evening event to provide cheer to frontline essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Secret Captain blog
Nautilus has published a blog from @TheSecretCapt, a master in charge of commercial vessels in the Straits of Hormuz, Far East and Asia about his experience of being in lockdown onboard, unable to return home to family, during the Covid-19 pandemic
Seafarers UK grants £100,000 emergency funds to deal with spike in demand
Charitable funding body Seafarers UK has announced an additional £100,000 in emergency funding will be made immediately available to maritime charities.
Tanker crew spend anxious days awaiting Covid-19 test results
A tanker captain has described spending days anxiously awaiting results of a Covid-19 coronavirus test for a crew member in the Middle East.