Hello Everybody,
In my last update I told you that we were en-route to West Africa and in particular Ghana and Sierra Leone to host further climate change seminars and training with the Ghanaian and Sierra Leone Navies, just as we did in South Africa. Now that we have sailed from West Africa, it is a good opportunity to tell you about our experiences as we head to colder waters.
Freetown, Sierra Leone
It was a privilege to be back in Ghana again following our previous visit in April last year. I have fond memories of Ghana from when I lived here as a child with my family who worked in Accra. The Ghanaian people are very friendly and keen to get involved in climate change and make a difference. Because the countries in West Africa have such a fragile environment, any small change in the climate will make a big difference to how they live, farm, fish and use and gather mineral resources. During the climate change conference in Ghana people from their government, discussed these subjects with assistance from experts from the UK, so that decisions could be made to help protect the environment.
Climate Change seminar in the hangar
The day after the climate change conference, we then held a Maritime Sea day where members of the Ghanaian government could go to sea and talk about the use of the sea. The sea is important for bringing trade in and out of the country but there is also crime and piracy at sea so learning who is using the sea and how they are using the sea is very important in stopping crime and allowing people to use the sea responsibly.
Members of the Ghanaian Government during the Maritime Sea Day
When HMS Endurance was at sea, we used our helicopter to build a picture of the busy international shipping lanes along Ghana’s coastline. In just 4 hours flying we saw a huge variety of different ships and boats all using the sea in different ways.
Whilst in Ghana we also trained with the Ghanaian Navy and learn a lot about how we both do our jobs. This also helped us build on the friendship our countries have with one another.
Officers in the Ghanaian Navy looking at photos of some of the ships we saw from our helicopter
Ghanaian Engineers looking at our engines
After sailing from Ghana, we then sailed to Sierra Leone where we hosted more climate change seminars and talked about the use of the sea with their Government and Navy. The use of the sea is very important to the lives of the people who live in Sierra Leone as many of them make a living as fishermen.
Fishermen in Sierra Leone
Whilst we were in Sierra Leone, we also had a visit from a school so the local children could learn about the Royal Navy and what we do at sea.
Local schoolgirl enjoying our helicopter
Another schoolgirl sitting in the Captain’s Chair on the bridge
Members of the Ship’s Company played a game of football against the local football team. Later that day the Sierra Leone national football team played New Guinea and won 2-0; it was a great day of football for everyone in Sierra Leone, including us!
LS Daz Muldowney playing football
LOGS Aaron O’Connor keeping an eye out from goal
In addition, whilst in Sierra Leone twenty members of Ship’s company travelled to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary high in the mountains behind Freetown.
Helping out at the Sanctuary
Once there they helped to repair damage to the enclosures caused by the chimpanzees. This involved the hanging of new ropes and the repair of a rain shelter in the infant enclosure.
On the second day, part of the group were used to make one of the enclosures more interesting for the chimpanzee living there, this chimpanzee had to be separated from the group when he was continually escaping. The sanctuary aims to rehabilitate orphaned chimpanzees with the hope of being able to release them back into the wild; as such none of the ship’s company were allowed to interact directly with the animals but were given the chance to watch the chimpanzees from areas that the general public are not allowed.
Our visits to Ghana and Sierra Leone were very enjoyable and we learned a lot about the importance of climate change and the use of the sea in West Africa. The people of West Africa take their environment very seriously because the way they live their lives is so dependant on it. I am very proud of my ship and her crew in being a part of the very important talks that took place, which I know have made a difference already.
HMS Endurance in the more familiar waters of Antarctica
We now continue on our way south to colder waters as we prepare, once again, for our work in the more familiar waters of the South Atlantic and Antarctica!
Tight Lines,
Capt Bob