General News of Friday, 26 January 2001

Source: GNA

British ship visits Ghana

A British Naval Ship, HMS Iron Duke, will make her second trip to the port of Tema from Friday, January 26 to Tuesday, January 30, a statement from the British High Commission said on Thursday.

During her visit, the ship will hold an Open Day and a party for children. The ship's sports team will compete in a number of fixtures, including a football match, against the Ghanaian Navy. The ship visited the Tema port in October last year.

The statement said the Royal Navy ship, designated for South Atlantic patrol, has undertaken routine patrol duties in the South Atlantic and West Africa "to provide a tangible United Kingdom maritime presence in the region". Built by Yarrows in Glasgow and commissioned on May 20, 1993, HMS Iron Duke is named after the Duke of Wellington. She is the third ship to bear the name, and the fifth of the royal Navy's type 23 frigates.

Her primary role is anti-submarine warfare. HMS Iron Duke completes her role of Atlantic Patrol Task in March this year and will be replaced by another Royal Navy unit.