HMS Trent, UK’s Royal Navy warship, and her team from the 42 Commando have left Lagos after an anti-piracy exercise.
The contingent is continuing their training in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) alongside other African partners.
In Nigeria, the Royal Marines Boarding Team trained with the Nigerian Navy (NN) on all aspects of Vessel Boarding, Search and Seizure, and firefighting demonstrations.
The drill lasted a total of 24 hours and involved Nigerian patrol vessels. The marines put lessons learnt into practice.
The ships involved in the exercise were NNS Prosperity, NNS Aba, NNS Ekulu, NNS Osun and NNS Ose, supported by two Deep Blue Project ships, DB Abuja and DB Lagos.
HMS Trent’s Commanding Officer, Commander Thomas Knott expressed delight the UK warship achieved much engagement with the local community and the Nigerian Military.
Knott said they sailed to conduct combined Maritime Security Operations with Nigerian counterparts in the GoG and to also exercise piracy interdiction operations.
“On behalf of my crew, I wish to pass my sincere gratitude for the generous hospitality we received in Nigeria, we cannot wait to return in 2022”, he added.
HMS Trent hosted a senior leadership forum with Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu and Air Vice Marshall Charles Ohwo representing all three arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
HMS Trent also supported a reception in aid of Nigerian wildlife and the fight against climate change with United Nations’ COP26 ongoing in Glasgow.
Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones said the UK was pleased to see the scale of cooperation and engagement between the Royal Navy from 42 Commando and the NN.
The partnership, Llewellyn-Jones notes, reiterates the UK’s role as a force for global good, collaborating with Nigerian armed forces to tackle maritime insecurity, piracy, and illegal wildlife trade in the GoG.
“Thanks to Commander Tom Knott and the entire crew of the Royal Navy warship, HMS Trent for their visit to Lagos, Nigeria. We do look forward to the next visit”, the envoy said.
Since leaving Lagos, HMS Trent has continued counter-piracy training with the Nigerian Navy in the Gulf of Guinea, as part of Exercise Grand Africa Nemo (EX GANo).
The Royal Navy has also worked with the Togolese National Navy and Benin Navy in Search and Rescue and counter-narcotics operations.
HMS Trent will carry on her three-month deployment with a port visit in Ghana where her Ship’s Company will continue to develop the Ghanaian peacekeeping capabilities and response to national security concerns.
Later in November, the warship will be in Senegal to help promote the UK’s position as co-president at the G7++ Friends of Gulf of Guinea conference.
