MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ice Patrol Ship return home.

Ice patrol ship HMS Endurance is heading home from a busy eight-month deployment to the South Atlantic and Antarctica.

The survey vessel returns to Portsmouth on Monday 9th June having sailed 40,000 miles carrying out vital work on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British Antarctic Survey and the Hydrographic Office.

On her way home Endurance changed roles to support counter drug operations in the Caribbean - the first time she had been used for such tasks. She worked closely with the US Coastguard, with her two Lynx helicopters carrying out long-range patrols throughout the region.

In between busy work schedules, the 116 crew found time to drop off vital medical supplies to a maternity hospital at Cartagena, Colombia. They also used money raised on board to buy extra goods to improve the lives of its staff and patients.

Ship's personnel have also been hard at work raising funds for the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth's Save a Life Appeal, which will soon be presented with a £5,000 cheque.

On her return Endurance will undergo comprehensive maintenance, before heading south again at the end of October.

Source: Navy News