HMS Cardiff to Tema

Accra, May 5, GNA, - The British Naval ship, HMS Cardiff, would visit the Port of Tema from May 8 to May 11 on her first trip to Ghana. HMS Cardiff is part of the Royal Navy's South Atlantic Patrol Force providing a tangible UK maritime presence in the South Atlantic as well as providing a presence in West Africa in support of UN and UK interests.

According to a statement the purpose of the visit is to demonstrate and reinforce bilateral ties between Ghana and the United Kingdom. Whilst in Tema the Captain, Commander Mike Beardall, will pay a courtesy call on the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue and the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive.

The third and present HMS Cardiff (D108) is a Type 42 (Batch 1) destroyer and is much smaller than the Batch 3 of the Type. She was launched in 1974 by Lady Caroline Gilmore and commissioned in 1979. She is one of the few ships still in the Royal Navy to have been involved in the Falklands War.

HMS Cardiff is supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Gold Rover, which also supported HMS Glasgow, which visited the Takoradi Harbour last November.