Royal Navy mine hunter visits Inverness to cement links

Royal Navy Sandown Class mine hunter HMS Ramsey visited Inverness recently to help cement affiliations with groups and organisations in the city.

From August 1 to 3 the ship was alongside Longman Quay, lowering the gangplank to welcome dozens of young visitors from Moray Sea Cadets TS Findhorn, Inverness Sea Cadets from TS Briton, 1st Avoch Sea Scouts and 18th Inverness Muirtown Sea Scouts.

The Royal Navy crew also hosted members of the Inverness Branch of the Royal Naval Association and paid a visit to Deputy Provost of Inverness, Councillor Bet McAllister, at the City’s Town House.

Part of the Scots-based First Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1), HMS Ramsey has most recently been operating as part of a NATO mine clearance task force in the Baltic Sea. 

The mine hunter joined SNMCMG1 – Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1- a task force dedicated to clearing mines in the region in May this year. 

After a stop-over in Copenhagen, where the crew had the chance to witness the Crown Prince’s 50th birthday celebrations, the ship got stuck into a mass casualty exercise at sea.

Ramsey was one of the first responders, sending their first aid team to another task force ship playing the part of a stricken vessel.

The crew also participated in gunnery exercises and practiced manoeuvres at speed with other vessels in the group.