HMS Middleton has hosted a Bahraini junior naval officer while alongside in Bahrain last month.
Lieutenant (Lt) Byron Linn RN, the HMS Middleton Navigation Officer, met with 2nd Lt Faisal M Mohammad Al Binali of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force, on board HMS Middleton.
Both officers took the opportunity to share their naval experiences and discuss their training. The art of navigation is one of the most challenging skills required of a Warfare Officer in the Royal Navy and so their wide ranging discussions explored electronic charting and fixing routines, followed by launching the SeaFox mine counter measure, and the safe launching and recovery of small boats.
The Royal Navy prides itself on its training and attention to detail. However, this was not the first exposure Lt Al Binali has had to the Royal Navy.
Lt Al Binali attended Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth as an Officer Cadet. Subsequently he has retained a strong affiliation with the RN and is keen to complete time at sea on an RN warship in the future.
After an enjoyable and useful day, Lt Al Binali has extended an invitation to Lt Byron for a tour of his own ship.
Lt Byron Linn said: “It was thoroughly enjoyable having Lt Faisal Al Binali on board and we enjoyed some good navigation training. I trained alongside Bahraini cadets at BRNC and it is nice that old bonds still stand.”
The UK has strong political, commercial and trading links in the Gulf region and units of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been on patrol in the Gulf permanently, 24/7 since October 1980.
The UK’s maritime presence in the Gulf is a demonstration of its continued commitment to enduring peace and stability.
It comprises: a command element, the United Kingdom Component Command (UKMCC), which is responsible for the wider region, across the Gulf and Indian Ocean, and it exercises command and control of the RN and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, whilst cooperating with Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a multi-national naval partnership of which the UK plays a major part.
Britannia Royal Naval College has been the centre of development for world-class naval officers in Dartmouth since 1863. The college has been at the forefront of the education delivering learning that is inspiring, challenging and relevant to meet Fleet operational capability
