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HMS Bulwark arrives in London
6 June 2016
Fleet Amphibious Flagship HMS Bulwark made a nighttime passage up the Thames this morning and moored off Greenwich to begin a 4 day visit to London.
Arriving from the Orkney Islands after playing a key role in the poignant and moving commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, the 400 sailors and marines (some of whom have never visited London before) will have the opportunity to explore the city and surrounding boroughs.
On Tuesday evening, HMS Bulwark will host the annual Peregrine Trophy awards ceremony, the showcase of the work of world-beating Royal Navy photographers who deploy with warships and Commando units worldwide.
Captain James Parkin, the Captain of HMS Bulwark said, “It’s always a delight for any Captain to bring his ship to the nation’s capital, and particularly for me with so much of my family hailing from the city.
It’s particularly pleasing to host the Peregrine Trophy awards this year, in such a prestigious location next to the Cutty Sark and the Old Royal Naval College.
“Bulwark has a busy programme of events and engagements over the next four days.
“It’s particularly pleasing to host the Peregrine Trophy awards this year, in such a prestigious location next to the Cutty Sark and the Old Royal Naval College”
Engineering Technician Daniel Brown, 20, who has never been to the city before, said “I am really looking forward to seeing London for the first time.
“We have had a busy month of exercises and memorial services, and this will be a chance to see the sights I’ve only ever seen photos of.”
Commander Steve Head, Commander Weapon Engineer in HMS Bulwark and the ship’s Media Officer said of the Peregrine Trophy, “The images and video produced by our terrific photographers really bring alive the work of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and are absolutely key in explaining what the Naval Service does every day, worldwide, mostly away from the public gaze and in situations ranging from training and disaster relief through to war fighting operations.”
Following the visit to London, HMS Bulwark will return to Plymouth for a short period of maintenance.
The ship will subsequently visit Sunderland and take the opportunity to exercise the Freedom of the City of Durham and act as a maritime backdrop for the Sunderland International Air Show.
HMS Bulwark will then lead the Royal Navy’s Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) deployment to the Mediterranean and beyond later in the year.