RFA Argus Arrives In Bermuda

RFA Argus has arrived in Bermuda for a brief stop on her way into the Caribbean to provide medical support to the British Overseas Territories & The Commonwealth in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

RFA Argus is the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries' primary casualty receiving ship & will be able to provide some excess capacity for those islands that may be struggling to cope with an influx of patients. Argus will also be able to provide transportation capabilities to help potential victims get to a hospital or bring them to the vessel for treatment. Shortly after departing Argus embarked 3 Merlins & 1 Wildcat. Argus is able to offer a wide range of medical treatment capabilities including, 10 ICU beds, 20 high dependency beds, 70 general beds, an operating theatre & a CT scanner. Before she departed Argus also took on water supplies, rations, equipment & materials to help repair & clear damaged or blocked roads. In the past RFA Argus has proved herself with an ability to respond to health emergencies such as her role in assisting with the Ebola outbreak in Africa.

RFA Argus

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The deployment to Argus is another step in reassuring the British Overseas Territories & The Commonwealth that Britain can & will provide support & aid when necessary. With HMS Medway being permanently deployed in the region to provide security & Argus providing medical aid Britain has demonstrated her commitment to the region. The Caribbean is a vitally important region to the UK with 6 overseas territories, Bermuda, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks & Caicos Islands. Having a population of just over 220k British subjects. In addition to this, the region also includes 12 Commonwealth members, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines & Trinidad & Tobago.

But she will not be the only European vessel to be deployed to help support the Coronavirus outbreak. France has sent Dixmude to provide logistical support & The Netherlands has deployed HNMLS Karl Doorman, due to sail on Monday. The combination of these 3 vessels working together will ensure that support is available to the British territories, The Commonwealth, Dutch territories & French territories & any other island should they require the support.