Home from home for Royal Navy crew as HMS Mersey arrives on the Mersey

Aug 4 2007 by Paula Owens, Liverpool Daily Post

ROYAL Navy vessel HMS Mersey has docked in Merseyside for a four-day visit.

The 1,700-tonne fishery protection vessel and her crew arrived in Bootle on Thursday.

HMS Mersey was commissioned in Sefton rather than her base port of Portsmouth, so the visit provides an opportunity to reinforce links with the region.

Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Richard Hands, yesterday welcomed the crew to Bootle Town Hall and gave them a guided tour of the civic buildings.

He said: “We are very proud of our links with the Royal Navy and are always pleased to host the crew in the borough.

“HMS Mersey often raises the profile of the borough by collecting money for the Mayor of Sefton’s Charity Fund, and I would like to thank them for all their continued efforts.”

HMS Mersey is the third of the River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) built for fishery protection around the UK.

Yesterday, the crew of the vessel took part in a joint exercise with Merseyside Fire and Rescue service when a mock fire was tackled on the vessel.

The sixth ship to bear the name in the Royal Navy, she was built at the Woolston Docks, in Southampton.

HMS Mersey Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Lett, said: “We always look forward to bringing HMS Mersey home.

“Bootle itself has a rich maritime history which is clear to see with all the artefacts on display at Bootle Town Hall.”

Lieutenant Commander Lett assumed command of HMS Mersey in December, 2006.

The vessel sails from Merseyside tomorrow.