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British naval ships assist Belize after Hurricane Dean
PORTLAND and WAVE RULER send teams to assist remote village after devastation



Plymouth based Royal Navy warship, HMS PORTLAND, and the Royal Fleet Auxillary tanker, WAVE RULER have sent teams ashore to provide assistance to the remote village of Xaibe in Belize, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Dean.

The two ships have sent an initial party of 15 to assess the situation and join up with a party from the British Army who are based at the permanent army training centre in Belize.

The team included HMS PORTLAND’s doctor, who was able to conduct a clinic for the locals and an electrical repair party, who took generators and lights, providing some power to the village.

A further 20 personnel are expected to go ashore in the morning to assist with debris clearance and roof repairs.

Commander Mike Utley Royal Navy, the Commanding Officer, stated

 “I am pleased to report that my teams have got ashore quickly and provided some immediate aid to the villagers.”

Both ships are stationed in the Caribbean region as part of the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) (APT(N)) for the 2007 hurricane season, which runs from June until November, ready to respond in the event of a humanitarian crisis.

At other times, APT(N) units conduct Maritime Counter Narcotics operations and wider regional engagements covering the Atlantic and western Pacific.

Both HMS PORTLAND and WAVE RULER were built on the Clyde in Glasgow, HMS PORTLAND in 2000 at Scotstoun,  and the RFA vessel in 2002 at Govan