The Royal Navy’s most advanced destroyer, HMS Dauntless, arrived in Anguilla on Friday 22nd September, 2023, for the weekend and anchored in the water off Crocus Bay.
The ship has been deployed to the Caribbean area to offer support that might be needed during the current hurricane period, as well as to assist in counter drug trafficking operations.
“I am happy to welcome HMS Dauntless to Anguilla and I look forward to learning more about the support that the ship and its specialists could provide to Anguilla, should we need any assistance,” Her Excellency the Governor of Anguilla, Julia Crouch OBE, commented.
On Friday 22nd September, 2023 the Governor, Premier Webster and other key stakeholders, as well as officials from the Department of Disaster Management, went on board the vessel to hold discussions regarding humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities, and the ship’s general operations in the area.
With the focus being on how the ship could be of support to Anguilla in times of a disaster, a Communications Officer from the HMS Dauntless tested Anguilla’s emergency satellite system, and the ship’s Medical Officer met with one of Anguilla’s Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and was given a tour of the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The HMS Dauntless is visiting a number of British Overseas Territories at this time. Just before coming to Anguilla, the ship visited Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Recently HMS Dauntless seized 1.2 tons of cocaine, worth an estimated US$175 million while patrolling a specific area in the Caribbean Sea. The ship’s Wildcat helicopter, Royal Marines and the US Coast Guard were all involved in the interception of the suspect boat.
