Work on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay, Falmouth’s adopted vessel, stepped up a gear this week at the docks as workers began an intensive programme to refit the ship prior to its next major deployment.

Mounts Bay along with Lyme Bay and Cardigan Bay and the Argus are “Cluster” ships based in the port for repairs under a multi-million pound Ministry of Defence contract with the A&P Group.

In the Mediterranean, Mounts Bay’s sister vessel Lyme Bay is actively involved in the Royal Navy’s annual Cougar deployment.

More than 600 Royal Marines and 1,500 sailors, soldiers and airman have arrived in the waters off the small Adriatic nation of Albania as the first amphibious workout of the Response Force Task Group’s annual Cougar deployment gets underway.

Albanian Lion, as the exercise is called, will project Royal Marines, from 40 Commando Royal Marines, ashore from Royal Navy Flagship HMS Bulwark, Landing Platform Helicopter HMS Ocean, and RFA Lyme Bay.

This is the fourth year that the Royal Navy has visited Albania during a Cougar deployment to work through various fighting scenarios including small craft simulated attacks on the warships, submarine threats and attack by fast jets.

Lieutenant Colonel Alex Jantzen, Commanding Officer 40 Commando Royal Marines, said: “Exercises like this are a perfect way to start this year’s Cougar deployment, and Albania offers unique and demanding training areas. We are conducting commando raids, helicopter assaults and covert boat operations