HMS Spey arrived into Tonga on Wednesday 26 January 2022 to unload disaster relief stores in the wake of the Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption and tsunami.

The Royal Navy ship, a Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel, delivered UK Aid stores comprising of 30,000 litres of bottled water, medical supplies for over 300 first aid kits, PPE and some basic sanitation and baby products.

The ship arrived into Nuku’alofa, the capital city of Tonga on the island of Tongatapu. Here stores are being collected at a logistics hub as part of international aid efforts. Stores are coordinated and then moved on to islands near to the volcano that were severely impacted after the eruption and subsequent tsunami.

Tonga’s strict protective COVID regulations meant that sailors were not allowed ashore so all stores had to be moved using HMS Spey’s crane. A long and hot day of craning and packaging the stores followed involving ship’s company from all departments on board.

In the background, even far away from the worst damage, there are visible signs of ash and debris coating the rooftops and trees along the shore. As the day wore on the New Zealand ship HMNZS Aotearoa and the Australian ship HMAS Adelaide appeared on the horizon ready to deliver their own stores.

HMS SPEY will work closely with the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Royal Australian Navy and with other allies to coordinate relief efforts with the Tongan Authorities and the British High Commission. The ship returns to sea but remains on task in Tonga, ready to help where needed in coming days

QUOTES

The Commanding Officer of HMS Spey, Commander Michael Proudman, said:

“I am immensely proud of my Ship’s Company. Their flexibility, hard work and speed of reaction in assisting our Commonwealth Friends in Tonga demonstrate the epitome of a modern, global Royal Navy, ready to respond at a moment’s notice. We wish the people of Tonga the very best in their recovery from this terrible disaster and stand ready to assist in any way we can.”

Chief Petty Officer Ash Head, the Cox’n on board HMS Spey, led efforts to unload stores. He said:

“I am slinger trained so I assist the crane operators as they offload water and stores. It is hot day out in the sun, so it is good to see the whole ship’s company working together, rotating positions where needed and keeping water bottles topped up. We are looking after each other and we are glad our work can support international aid efforts and help Tonga.

Engineering Technician Jack Parker, aged 24 from Emsworth, was the duty sentry and helped unload stores. He said:

“I helped bring on water bottles and containers in Tahiti and as we come to Tonga I have been on duty to provide force protection while we get the relief stores off again. The Royal navy has always been involved in humanitarian aid – you always see it in the Caribbean and this is the first time in a while we have had the chance to help in the pacific. It is something we should do and I am glad to be helping.”

Sub-Lieutenant Kate Winter, aged 23 from Gosport, assisted with planning for Spey to get to Tonga and then also helped unload disaster relief stores. She said:

“When Spey was re-tasked to help disaster relief efforts in Tonga there was a lot of planning needed at short notice. I researched and briefed our sailors on the needs, culture and COVID status of Tonga so that we can provide help safely and in the most appropriate way. Once the planning was done and we arrived, I have been helping unload stores like everyone else on ship!”