Royal Navy’s HMS Tamar Conducts Explosives Disposal Operation In Pitcairn Island

Thunder echoed over Pitcairn Island as the Royal Navy reached to safeguard one of the most isolated paradises in the world. For about five long days, the HMS Tamar, a Royal Navy patrol vessel, navigated the waters surrounding the Pacific Island, famous as the refuge of mutineers associated with HMS Bounty.

Today, the descendants of the Bounty’s crew members inhabit this 2.8 sq. mile haven dedicated to preserving its wildlife. Pitcairn is a UK Overseas Territory that lies about 3,000 miles away from New Zealand, where the island’s governor is based in Wellington.

During their visit, experts from Tamar reportedly embarked on a mission to neutralize the explosives kept dormant for almost half a century on Pitcairn by carrying out controlled explosions. Spanning an area equivalent to Scandinavia, the waters form the fourth-largest Marine Protected Area in the world. The patrol vessel accumulated water samples to facilitate scientific analysis, shedding light on the effect of climate changes in the ecologically significant zone.

The islanders were grateful for the support provided, whether the advice on marine infrastructure or outreach support for aiding their community centre, stated Leo Jeune, Officer of the Watch Lieutenant. He added that it was pleasing to meet and integrate with the community and understand the challenges and crucial aspects of living in the UK’s most distant territory overseas and also one of the world’s most isolated communities. Their friendliness and island spirit were mimetic of the communities often missed when it was forward deployed away from their homes.

HMS Tamar’s arrival doubled the population of Pitcairn as sailors engaged in community tasks around Adamstown, the island’s settlement. This was the Royal Navy’s second visit to the islands two years after the sister vessel of HMS Tamar, the HMS Spey, delivered COVID-19 vaccines in 2022.

It had been a golden opportunity to visit and support one of the most faraway territories of the UK and extend aid to maritime security, Tom Gell, Tamar’s Commanding Officer Commander, reported. However, the measures to safeguard the island are far from being over. Specialists associated with the Portsmouth-based Diving and Threat Exploitation Group related to the Royal Navy discovered more than 1,100 detonators and nearly 3 km of a detonating cord, the remnants of the island’s harbour construction of 19790s, heightening the need for controlled explosions in a sheltered bay for easy disposal.

Besides, the experts also uncovered about three and a half tons of ammonium nitrate fuel oil, which is highly explosive and earlier utilized in Pitcairn’s quarrying mining activities. An expert team will return to render it safe in its due course.

Reference: Forces.net

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Source: Maritime Shipping News