UK Navy Ship Ends Visit to Lebanon, Shorter Announces Grant to Rangers Regiment

Standing 34m high and weighing 22,000 tons, the British navy's Her Majesty’s Ship OCEAN was an unexpected change to the skyline of Beirut port this weekend.

The imposing structure of the warship, with its helicopter hangar and launchpad, saw HMS OCEAN’s first visit to Beirut port on the way back to the UK, “intended to mark the UK’s commitment to Lebanon,” a British Embassy statement said.

During its stay in the Port of Beirut, the flag ship and crown jewel of the Royal Navy hosted a series of high profile events, school and media tours designed to “emphasize and deepen the partnership -- in the defense field and beyond -- between the UK and Lebanon,” the statement said.

Thirty students aged 16-17 from the British Council’s ‘Taqaddam’ (Moving Forward) youth leadership project joined the Royal Marines on a guided tour of the ship, and were put through their paces with British Navy teambuilding exercises.

HMS OCEAN Commanding Officer Captain Pedre, British Ambassador Hugo Shorter, and Defense attaché Chris Gunning met Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and Minister of Defense Yaaqoub Sarraf. Rear Admiral Burton met with LAF Navy Commander Admiral Majed Alwan. And before the ship’s departure, the Ambassador hosted over lunch the chiefs of the Lebanese security agencies.

The highlight of HMS OCEAN’s visit was the evening reception, attended by the representative of President Michel Aoun, Minister Sarraf, Prime Minister Saad Hariri's representative Minister Ghattas Khoury, and former minister Yassine Jaber representing Speaker Nabih Berri.

Shorter announced further support to the Lebanese army's Rangers Regiment of further equipment to help build their ‘off road’ and ‘all-weather’ capabilities. He added that the essence of the UK’s approach is this: “protecting the co-existence at the heart of the Lebanese model requires a strong state.”

Guests also had the chance to see the latest models of high end British luxury cars on display from Jaguars, to Aston Martins and Land Rovers.

Addressing his guests, Shorter said: “We are proud of our partnership with your country, through its institutions. And as a demonstration of our strong belief in the importance of Lebanese sovereignty, we have so far invested $100m in the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces since 2011.”

“And I am pleased to announce the delivery of further equipment worth $65,000 for Lebanese Rangers of further equipment to help build their ‘off road’ and ‘all-weather’ capabilities,” he added.

“Working with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Lebanese municipalities, we’re supporting communities with cleaner water, farming equipment, better roads, and public spaces. Working with the Ministry of Education, we’re giving schoolbooks to children. Training teachers. And, along with the British Council, equipping young people with the skills they need for the future. Working with the Banque du Liban we’re supporting start-ups and creating hi-tech jobs,” Shorter explained.

He stressed that he wants the partnership between the UK and Lebanon to be “positive and lasting.”

“The UK once helped Lebanon gain its independence, and we remain firm supporters of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty today. The essence of our approach is this: protecting the co-existence at the heart of the Lebanese model requires a strong state. So we build long-term relationships with key Lebanese institutions, to help them deliver for all Lebanese,” Shorter said.

HMS OCEAN weighs 22,000 tons and is the largest operational warship in the Royal Navy. Its primary role is as a helicopter carrier and amphibious assault ship.

In the months prior to arriving in Lebanon, HMS OCEAN has been the Flagship for Combined Task Force 50 (CTF50), a multi-national task force maintaining “the free flow of trade, freedom of navigation for shipping and regional security in the Middle East.”