MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
HMS Portland on South Atlantic patrol after successful visit in Brazil
The Type 23 frigate HMS Portland launched in 1999 HMS Portland has taken up station in the British Forces South Atlantic Islands Joint Operations Area in the Falkland Islands. The Type 23 frigate took over from HMS York South Atlantic patrol duties.
Her last call was in Brazil where HMS Portland carried out a very successful official visit to Rio de Janeiro. As well as hosting numerous events, the stay in the Brazilian city also provided the Ship’s Company with some well-earned downtime leading up to the handover with HMS York.
The ship hosted a lunch party for the British Ambassador to Brazil, Mr Alan Charlton and his guests. A very enjoyable cocktail party was held in the evening for a hundred guests consisting of local dignitaries and people from the Brazilian Defense and Military community. In the finest of naval traditions the assembled guests were treated to the first ceremonial sunset of the deployment.
The main reason for the visit was for HMS Portland to host a UK Trade & Investment sponsored Defense Industry Day. Twelve British companies were represented during the event, with stalls and displays set up in the ship’s hangar.
The final day alongside saw a number of high ranking Brazilian Military and Defense officials visit the ship for the Defense Industry Day. The guests enjoyed tours of the ship, capability demonstrations and a working lunch on the flight deck. The event cemented the already good relations between the two countries and in addition helped secure some future contracts and British jobs.
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Read all commentsI forget, did Brazil come out in support of Argentina's spurious claim to the Falkland Islands??? It's not very obvious :-)
May 18th, 2010 - 08:26 am 0Buy hey, nothing has changed so NO PROBLEM :-)
A little behind the times, Mercopress! Portland handed over with York... in the Falklands... nearly a weeks ago!!
May 18th, 2010 - 11:03 am 0Is this the great British threat which is pointed practically at the heart of latin America that Jorge bangs on about? A type 23, so threatening to the peace of Latin America that it hosted a working lunch a few tours and secured a couple of Defence contracts for British companies!
May 18th, 2010 - 02:11 pm 0Either the Malvinista's are just picking on any info to make a point or they are genuinely afraid after the last kicking of any significant British military presence no matter how token.
In which case despite Nicotines ramblings about not having enough to buy an Air Rifle, we have nothing to fear, judging by the performance of Argentina's armed forces in 1982 a very sharp potato peeler positioned strategically should be a sufficient deterrent, although I would imagine the Parliament of Tierra del Fuego would have issue with the sharpness of it.....
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