SAILORS from the Royal Naval warship HMS Argyll have completed a four-day clear-up operation in hurricane-hit Bermuda.

They have left the tiny British territory with praise ringing in their ears for helping clear roads, restore power supplies and search the island for remote and inaccessible sites affected by Hurricane Gonzalo.

The island is once again open for business having worked shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers of the Bermuda regiment.

Before sailing to resume her counter-drugs patrols of the Caribbean – she bagged £21m of cocaine earlier in her deployment – the frigate’s crew were invited to a thank-you ceremony.

The island’s Junior Minister for National Security and Legal Affairs Senator Jeffrey Baron told the ship’s company: “I thank you for your work here as a Bermudian. Bermuda has shown remarkable resilience and the Royal Navy’s presence has enhanced what we have done to recover from Hurricane Gonzalo in every way.”

HMS Argyll arrived in Bermuda hot on the heels of the hurricane, braving rough seas to arrive as soon as possible after the storm had passed.

Using the Bermuda Regiment’s Warwick Camp as their base during the clear-up, the ship provided a range of help, including aerial reconnaissance by her Lynx helicopter which scoured the island for problems not evident on the ground – engineering support, specialist teams to work high up, and a surge of manpower to clear vital transport links.

Among the sailors helping out was Leading Writer Judson Cupid who said: “I am really pleased that the work we have done here has made a real difference to help the people of Bermuda. Our ship’s main mission in the region is to help the UK’s overseas territories in case of a hurricane or another disaster and this proves that we can and will assist in any way we can.”

Petty Officer (Engineering Technician) Dean Hayes, from Lancashire, added: “We’re pleased to be here and helping. I’ve never done anything like this before – it’s very rewarding and everyone has been so friendly.”

The crew of HMS Argyll trained intensively to carry carried out humanitarian and disaster relief work under Flag Officer Sea Training staff before they deployed from her base-port of Plymouth earlier this year.

While patrolling the Caribbean her sailors have met regularly with emergency response services and authorities in the islands to discuss how they could combine forces in the event of a natural disaster.

Lieutenant Matthew Tuner, who worked with the Bermuda Regiment at their centre of operations, said: “The island’s soldiers were well prepared and professional and we have worked closely with them at every turn to ensure Bermuda recovers from the effects of hurricane Gonzalo as quickly as possible.”

HMS Argyll’s captain Commander Paul Hammond said: “One of the reasons the Navy still puts a ship in the Caribbean is to provide disaster relief in the event of a hurricane. The main role of our team on the ground is extra hands to work with the regiment to make sure Bermuda is ready for business.”

Bermuda Regiment Commanding Officer Lt Col Michael Foster-Brown, who is on secondment from the British Army, said: “We are very grateful for the support of HMS Argyll. They’ve provided more than 70 sailors each day to assist with work parties and also teams trained to operate safely at height. Their Lynx helicopter provided valuable aerial reconnaissance and could have saved lives if the effects of the hurricane had been worse.”

HMS Argyll continues to conduct counter narcotics patrols in conjunction with the US Coast Guard to enhance regional security and deter illicit activity and is due to return by the end of this year.