HMS Pembroke calling at Malta
HMS Pembroke is to visit Malta over Christmas, arriving in Grand Harbour on Saturday and staying until January 5.
The Royal Navy Sandown Class mine counter-measures ship is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Simon Wallace. The Sandown Class are specialised mine-hunters that use high definition sonar to search under the sea surface for anti-shipping mines.
During the ship’s stay, the Armed Forces of Malta will be joining the crew in various training programmes including sailing in formation, tactical manoeuvring and communicating in code.
The aim of these exercises is to allow both forces to share ideas, experiences and improve their operational capability. HMS Pembroke will also take senior officers from the Armed Forced of Malta to sea, to further demonstrate her capabilities.
HMS Pembroke is currently en-route to the Arabian Gulf, where she will be part of Operation Telic, the UK’s commitment to a democratic and free Iraq. In the Arabian Gulf, historic mines - many dating back to the Iran-Iraq war - pose such a threat to international shipping that the regional economy is affected. By ensuring key sea lanes of communication are safe to use, the UK seeks to contribute to economic growth and overall stability in Iraq.
Since leaving the UK at the end of October HMS Pembroke has visited Gibraltar, Sicily and Crete.
In Malta, it will be berthed at Pinto Wharf. The ship will not be open to the public during her stay.
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In Discussion
8 Comments
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Giov DeMartino
Dec 21st 2008, 07:29
It was not yours truly who said that it is our constitution, and not foreign warships, that defend our independence or what is left of it after joining the EU. How very naive. Having the right means nothing unless you also have the might. We know what happened to several European independent states before and after the war when they were overran by Nazi and Communist forces respectively. Kuwait was overrun by Saddam. We could not even defend ourselves when threatened by a couple of Libyan gunboats and we could not challenge Israeli gunboats outside Marsalxlokk. We could only protest when a British warship steamed into our territorial waters. Tal-;lejber should stop flogging the dead and buried horse of the EU because their party is trying to look m,ore European than the PN itself. Even Alex Sciberras Trigona, of HMS Brazen fame has now joined the team.
lgalea
Dec 20th 2008, 13:39
James S Vella
And what does piracy off Somalia have to do with the Central Mediterranean?
James S Vella
Dec 20th 2008, 08:59
lgalea: Your lack of argument shows exactly whose argument is stupid.
And what does neutrality have to do with the ships being hijacked off somalia? Oil supertankers have been hijacked, and cruise liners have been cancelling cruises in that part of the world.
lgalea
Dec 20th 2008, 08:42
James S Vella
That's the most stupid argument I've read on The Times.
Giov DeMartino
Our Independence (or what's left of it since joining the eu) is only guaranteed by our neutrality not foreign powers warships.
James S Vella
Dec 20th 2008, 08:36
Yes, the Maltese economy does, to an extent, depend on the presence of warships in the Mediterranean. Without the warships we would have countries (such as Libya has done) pretend to have a bigger slice of the sea as their territorial waters. And, as is happening off Somalia, we would have piracy. That means goodbye cruise liners, good bye tourism, good bye fishing industry, goodbye oil exploration...We should welcome the goodwill visits by these warships with open arms. They actually show Malta is safe.
D Vella
Dec 20th 2008, 08:00
Sad that Malta in 2008 still depends on these war machines to earn income.
Giov DeMartino
Dec 20th 2008, 07:35
I hope that we have many more similar visits. These warship not only embellish our Grand Harbour but they also guarantee our independence. Let them come in.
JOSEPH CACHIA
Dec 20th 2008, 00:14
Why does the government allow such warships to come to Malta?
No British, American or any other warships in action in Iraq should enter MALTA. We do not need their business nor their money. These are WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.