FROM PALMA TO IRAQI PORT FOR GRIMSBY

THE Royal Navy minesweeper, Grimsby which visited Palma before heading to the Gulf is playing a key role in the Iraqi conflict.
As readers will remember during its visit to Palma Bulletin Michelin star chef Marc Fosh went aboard and helped the crew cook breakfast while the Bulletin with the support of a major supermarket presented the Grimsby with two giant jamon serranos. On Friday the Grimsby led the supply ship Sir Galahad into the port of Umm Qasr bringing the first batch of humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people. Throughout the week the Grimsby had been heavily involved in clearing the port of mines allowing ships with aid to follow. The Sandown class minesweeper, which docked at the Porto Pi naval base in February, was also involved in the search for the two Royal Navy helicopters which collided in mid-air shortly after take-off from the Ark Royal. The Grimsby was involved in the rescue operation and the subsequent search for survivors. The commander of the ship said that they hoped to visit Palma on their return from the Gulf. The only low point during the visit was that Palma was hit by its worst snow-storm in recent years coinciding with its visit. The Sir Galahad has also visited Palma. She was extensively rebuilt after being attacked during the Falklands war. The supply ship and sister vessel Sir Tristram were attacked by the Argentina air force with more than 50 service-people dying in what was Britain's worst disaster of the war.