HRFCA hosted employers at an on-board reception during a ship visit to the Port of Dundee on 2 Feb.
Two vessels, the Royal Navy’s HMS Cattistock and the Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS Mercuur – together comprising NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasure Group 1 – arrived at King George V Wharf as part of their routine deployment.
Guests were welcomed by Mercuur’s Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Rik Woertman of the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Group’s Commander, Commander Peter Ramboer of the Belgian Navy.
The ship’s crew comprises officers and sailors from a number of NATO navies, including the Netherlands, Belgium and Estonia.
Commander Ramboer thanked the guests for supporting the event and described the main mission of the Group in providing NATO with a continuous mine countermeasure capability for multinational operations and other activities in peacetime and during periods of crisis and conflict. He also explained that the ships in the Group are capable of undertaking a wide variety of other tasks, including supporting anti-terrorist operations and assisting in the prevention of crisis situations and conflicts at seas, in Search and Rescue operations and in non-combatant evacuation operations.
An exchange of gifts followed between Commander Ramboer and Dundee Lord Provost Mr Ian Borthwick.
Thanks to the officers and sailors for putting on such an informative and enjoyable visit, and to RN Liaison Officer Lt Cdr Keith Conway for helping arrange HRFCA’s participation.
Employers Roy McLellan of DriverHire Dundee (left) and Mr Jim Pickett of Liftruks Dundee.
Roy McLellan and Jim Pickett with members of the ship’s company.
Dundee Lord Provost Ian Borthwick shares a joke with Commander Peter Ramboer of the Belgian Navy.
