NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2010


Coulport reserve enhanced


A GROUP of MOD volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to a day of hard work improving a nature reserve in Scotland. The voluntary conservation


day at the MOD’s community nature


near Coulport, took place after environmentally-conscious members of the Explosives Handling Jetty team at RN Armaments Depot Coulport asked if they could help further develop the site. The 25 green volunteers were


reserve at Peaton Hill,


39


Energetic initiative at Culdrose


ENERGY consumption at RN air station Culdrose has been cut by ten per cent over the past 12 months, and managers hope there is more to come. In line with the Prime Minister’s recent challenge to Government departments, Culdrose personnel will be expected to play their part in continuing to seek opportunities to reduce power usage and achieve an additional ten per cent cut in the coming year. Energy conservation advisors


invited to work alongside members of the Turner Estates Solutions supply chain, MOD Police, Defence Estates and staff from Turner Facilities Management in constructing pathways around the reserve.


work, cutting and laying matting, spreading chips and tacking netting over wooden walkways. There was also an opportunity to help put up owl boxes and paint seats and fencing around the conservation area. Donna Green, Sustainability Advisor for


Solutions, said: “It is fantastic that we had so many keen volunteers from various companies. “It allowed us to work together


to give something back to the community. “With all


put in, the walkways will be safer to use and the path through the reserve is nearing completion. “This will benefit walkers, local schoolchildren who can be taught about wildlife and also tourists visiting the area.” The Peaton Hill reserve was launched in 2004 after an MOD biodiversity event.


Government’s natural environment advisors recognised the benefits of developing the site, and a start up grant of £9,900 was awarded. Since


gone from strength to strength, attracting numerous local schools to show pupils the importance of biodiversity, and also many rare animals including smooth newts, hen harriers and common frogs. The MOD’s achievement in


transforming a forgotten piece of wasteland into a thriving home for wildlife was formally recognised last year when it was awarded the 2009 Sanctuary Silver Otter award for Environmental Projects.


Festival Blazer


PATROL boat HMS Blazer might be compact but she still offers members of the public a chance to look round a Royal Navy vessel. And


opportunity at a West Country fish festival. CO Lt Tom Weaver said: “The


many took up


ship’s company was delighted to attend Fishstock Brixham 2010 and thoroughly enjoyed the warm welcome and lively atmosphere of the festival.”


Where’s Helen?


HMS SCEPTRE decommissions next month – and the boat is hoping to invite a special guest to the event.


While looking through archive pictures


in the Imperial War


Museum, CPO Del Briton found a set of snaps of Miss Sceptre 1988, Helen Mason, who hailed from Barrow-in-Furness. The crew is hoping to invite


Helen, the daughter of a Vickers shipyard worker, to the bash in Devonport. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of Helen, a Miss Great


Britain finalist,


they contact CPO Briton on 380-cpos@a.dii.mod.uk


Unicorn date


frigateunicorn.org/events/2010- remembrance-service


THE annual RNR Service of Remembrance will take place on board the frigate Unicorn in Dundee at 1500 on Sunday November 14. For details see www.


● The original Cod Squad illustration


Police search for original Cod Squad


could


MINISTRY of Defence Police are seeking an illustration which has disappeared from view. The Gosport CID office is looking for help from Navy News readers in trying to locate an original silhouette illustration depicting members of the Fishery Protection Squadron on board a fishing vessel checking the catch and the boat’s nets. The original illustration was commissioned in 2006. Copies of the original illustration are titled ‘Cod Squad’ and this title is located in the centre of the copied picture. However, the original does not have the title ‘Cod Squad’ on it.


that may assist the police in locating the original illustration it would be appreciated, and information


anonymously on both the charity Crimestoppers telephone number (0845 555111), via the 24-hour MDP control room number at Portsmouth Naval Base (023 9272 2707), or by contacting the officer dealing with the case, DC Phil Phillips (023 9254 4141, answer phone facility available). If you do have information, please mention when calling that your message is in relation to an appeal made in Navy News on behalf of the MOD Police.


can be provided If anyone has any information the then the reserve Both MOD and the Scottish has the hard work we Turner Estates And the team were soon hard at


at Culdrose meet regularly with the various building managers to discuss the latest initiatives in saving energy


● HMS Argyll returns to Devonport after her ‘make-over’ on the Forth Picture: LA(Phot) James Crawford


Argyll returns home after ‘make-over’


HMS ARGYLL has arrived home in Plymouth after an 11-month extreme


‘make-over’. The Type 23 frigate’s refit included 290, 000 man-hours of attention to cover modifications, upgrades and improvements. Cdr Paul Stroude, Argyll’s Commanding


Officer, said: “It is great to be back home in Plymouth where we will all enjoy getting the well-earned opportunity to spend more time with our families. “Our return to our base port also signals the next step in our regeneration where we will put to the test and prove the variety of


new systems in place.” The officer continued: “I cannot emphasise enough how much of an achievement it has been for the partnership to get HMS Argyll back to sea – the complexity of the work package is extraordinary, but we have delivered. “The ship is in superb condition, which was recognised when we passed our ready-for-sea- date inspection. “We sailed with a whole host of new and exciting capabilities that has made HMS Argyll a potent fighting force, able to support and protect UK interests worldwide for many years to come.”


Severn swoops


Court the owner and master of the fishing vessel, the Hanny, pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to maintain an accurate logbook. Owner Hendrikus De Vries and master Peter Dick De Vries have been fined more than £3,000 between them, with a similar sum in costs.


The fishing vessel was boarded


ROYAL Navy marine enforcement officers aboard Fishery Protection Squadron ship HMS Severn detained a Dutch-registered fishing boat which aroused their interest. And at Hartlepool Magistrates’


by marine enforcement officers from HMS Severn in the North Sea on October 5, having been suspected of failing to record a quantity of cod in their logbook when fishing in the North Sea cod recovery area. The Hanny was detained at


Hartlepool for investigation, which revealed 560kg of cod that had not been recorded. The owner’s total fines came to


£3,000 plus £3,062 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge, while the master’s total fines came to £330 plus £300 in


victim surcharge. costs and a £15 Cdr Stroude said the crew earned a long


weekend of leave because they had been working so hard at putting the ship through her paces. Between 2005 and 2009 HMS Argyll spent long periods at sea on operations worldwide, and she was ready for a spell in dry dock and a deep overhaul. She is the first Type 23 to complete her second major refit, in her case taking the best part of a year. Argyll will now undergo further trials and


operational sea training next year before she is ready for her next deployment.


most of what is being used. Such


simple


and making the procedures


as


shutting down computers and turning off printers at the end of the working day, switching off unnecessary lights and unplugging electrical equipment when not in


use are already promoted


throughout the Cornish air station.


Aircraft hangars are being fitted with better insulation and more efficient methods of heat distribution, and when linked to a system of interlocking hangar doors


this helps avoid heat-loss


when the doors are opened to allow aircraft in or out.


New technology such as high- efficiency boilers and more efficient low-wattage bulbs are being used in concert with an education programme to highlight energy savings measures and spread the word to all personnel, whether Service or civilian. Chris


Dowling, energy


efficiency advisor at Culdrose, said: “I congratulate those who have contributed to the successful savings so far and urge them to continue the good work and help make further savings in the future.”


Blazer is attached to Southampton University Royal Naval Unit (URNU).


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