RFA Argus to return to Falmouth for refit
6:30pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News
RFA Argus to return to Falmouth for refit
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus returns to Falmouth next week to begin a refit after a seven-month long high profile deployment to the USA and the Caribbean. Argus sailed from the port last May for the United States.
The first six weeks saw the ship representing the UK during the United States’ War of 1812 bicentenary celebrations. For four weeks, Argus joined a procession of sail to Norfolk, Baltimore and Boston.
It was the first time that an RFA ship had delivered a gun salute on entering a port.
She then headed south to the Caribbean for the UK’s year-round commitment to the region in support of potential humanitarian aid and disaster relief – including hurricanes, floods and volcanic eruptions.
RFA Argus spent six months patrolling the region, ready to respond to any emergency. However, the islands were able to deal with the impact of Tropical Storm Sandy without requiring assistance from the vessel, although 200 shelter kits were delivered to needy communities following the passage of Storm Sandy to assist in the rebuild process.
The ship paid many visits to island ports in the region.
Argus also embarked a US Coastguard Law Enforcement Detachment, to help patrol the central and southern Caribbean. This joint operation, including US, Dutch and British ships, was successful in disrupting the trafficking of illegal narcotics through to the US and Europe.
Argus is expected to return to the fleet in mid 2013. She will resume her role as the UK’s primary casualty receiving ship, ready on short-notice to embark a full team of medical specialists, and sail to any potential hotspot in the world.
