Royal Navy’s HMS Trent is bound for the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, as it heads for security patrols and a mission to support allies in West Africa.
HMS Trent is now turning its attentions south to the tropical waters of the Gulf of Guinea for the next three months as it becomes the first Royal Navy ship to sail to the region in three years.
With Royal Marines of 42 Commando on board, the ship will carry out a range of joint exercises and training to strengthen ties and develop plans for future operations in the region.
Trent will visit Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and Cape Verde, and will take part in French-led multinational exercises that will bring together international partners in the area, known as Exercise Grand African Nemo.
It will also conduct security patrols and support partner navies by helping to develop key maritime skills.
The deployment of the patrol vessel is a signal of the UK’s commitment to being more persistently engaged in the region, through which more than £6 billion of UK trade passes every year.
HMS Trent finished preparations for her patrol to West Africa in the waters close to Gibraltar, refreshing skills following a period of maintenance and a rotation of crew.
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey, said:
This deployment shows the Integrated Review in action. It demonstrates how a truly Global Britain is stepping up on the world stage to tackle shared international security challenges
