A ROYAL Navy warship will arrive in Inverness on Thursday giving local folk the chance to get up close and get a glimpse of the vessel.
The HMS Grimsby which is home-ported at Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde will arrive alongside Longman Quay around lunchtime - however won’t be open to public tours this time around.
Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Giles Palin and his crew, have a busy programme of events during the five-day stay in the Highland Capital.
Lt Cdr Palin will call upon several local dignitaries and public figures, including Provost Jimmy Gray, on Thursday afternoon.
On Friday and Saturday, the ship will host tours for invited guests, including many students from local schools including Millburn Academy, Culloden Academy and Charleston Academy, plus sea cadets from local units TS Briton and Findhorn. The ship will then refuel and load provisions on Sunday, prior to her return to sea on Monday.
Lt Cdr Palin said: "Mine Countermeasure Vessels are not that common a sight around the ports of northern Scotland and I’m sure there will be many local people come down to have a look.
"It’s unfortunate that, due to operational reasons, we can’t allow them on board this time, but I do hope we can return at some future date to properly meet and greet the people of Inverness."
It’s been a busy few years for the Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessel. She has spent almost three years in the Arabian Gulf, only returning to her Scottish base last summer.
The Royal Navy rotates the crews of mine hunters with the ships staying in the humid region for years at a time and the different crews flying out to deploy onboard for several months.
