In support of the Torbay Airshow, HMS Somerset will be anchored in Tor Bay and residents and visitors will be able to go on board the warship.

HMS Somerset traces her history back three centuries, but it was in 2005 that she adopted her motto from the Duke of Somerset, for whom she is named: Foy pour devoir - faith for duty.

HMS Somerset was involved in a joint NCA, Border Force and Royal Navy operation in the North Sea which saw a quantity of cocaine has been seized. Acting on intelligence supplied by the NCA, the MV Hamal was intercepted by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset and Border Force cutter Valiant about 100 miles east of Aberdeen on Thursday 23 April.

The operation was conducted following close cooperation with the French customs investigation service DNRED and in coordination with the UK's National Maritime Information Centre (NMIC) plus the Maritime Analysis and Operational Centre - Narcotics (MAOC-N) based in Lisbon. The cocaine had an estimated total weight in excess of three tonnes which, if cut and sold in the UK, could have had a likely potential street value of more than £500 million, depending on purity.

A transfer boat out to the ship will be departing from Haldon Pier on Sunday 4 June 2017. Due to the capacity of the transfer boat there a limited spaces of 80 for each hour. If you would like to book tickets please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hms-somerset-ship-tour-tickets-34882612834.

Transfer boats timings:

  • 1030 for a visit to the ship 1100-1200
  • 1130 for a visit to the ship 1200-1300
  • 1230 for a visit to the ship 1300-1400
  • 1330 for a visit to the ship 1400-1500
  • 1430 for a visit to the ship 1500-1600

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