RFA Wave Knight now in SVG to demonstrate disaster relief capabilities

The UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship, Wave Knight has arrived in St Vincent and the Grenadines for a short visit to demonstrate Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities. The ship is part of the UK’s Caribbean Task Group, which is formed during the hurricane season, and held at immediate readiness to respond to hurricanes or other natural disasters.

On Friday 29 October the Ship hosted The Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Director of Foreign Policy and Research, Mr Mozart Carr, Deputy Director of National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), Mr Kenson Stoddard and other distinguished guests, in order to showcase some of the HADR capabilities that are held on board RFA Wave Knight. This will include demonstrations from the 24 Cdo Royal Engineers Crisis Response Troop, and a tour of the Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter.

On Monday 01 November there are also plans for the Wildcat helicopter to assist the NEMO with further surveying tasks on the volcano La Soufrière which erupted in April this year.

Captain Ali Clack, Commanding Officer of RFA Wave Knight said: “This is RFA Wave Knight’s second visit to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines this year, our last in response to the devastating eruption of La Soufrière. This visit we look forward to displaying some of the Task Group’s other Humanitarian and Disaster Relief capabilities and discussing how the UK can further support the region as it emerges from a globally difficult year.”

The Caribbean Task Group consists of the patrol ship HMS Medway, the support tanker RFA Wave Knight and its embarked Wildcat HMA2 helicopter, along with the Crisis Response Troop drawn from 24 Commando Royal Engineers. It carries specialist equipment and emergency supplies for use in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.