Two sailors from Arbroath are helping with the Danish-led UN mission to remove chemical weapons from Syria during their first deployment.
Lieutenant Amy Bolland and Engineering Technician (Marine Engineer) Cameron ‘Gilly’ McGill both serve on board Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond which deployed for seven months in January.
Currently in the Eastern Mediterranean Diamond is escorting the multi-national task group of ships tasked with providing protection for two merchant vessels transporting chemical weapons away from Syria. The toxic cargo is being taken through the Med and will later be destroyed. The operation is called Op RECSYR – short for Removal of Chemicals from Syria.
Former Arbroath High School pupil Amy holds a Masters in mechanical engineering and as deputy marine engineer officer leads a team of 45 engineers who maintain the complex systems onboard.
She said: “I’m enjoying my time on board so far and this is especially so in the knowledge that we are taking an active part in contributing to Op RECSYR,” said Amy. “This is a unique operation of multiple countries in support of UN Security Council Resolution 2118 to transport chemical substances from Syria to later destruction. “It is an experience that not many of my colleagues in the Navy have had themselves or are likely to do so; I am privileged to be experiencing an operation of this nature so early on in my career.”
Former Arbroath Academy pupil Cameron (19) works on HMS Diamond’s diesel generators in the electrical distribution section.
He said: “So far, I’m enjoying my first deployment and have had lots of opportunities to put my engineering training into practice. While I miss my friends and family back home, I’m enjoying seeing new places with my shipmates and look forward to telling them of my experiences when I’m next home.”
HMS Diamond is one of six of the Royal Navy’s newest Type 45 destroyers. The Portsmouth-based warship is equipped with some of the most advanced weapons systems in the world and is powered by two 21MW gas turbines and two 2MW diesel generators – enough electricity to power a town four times the size of Arbroath.