Royal Navy ship performs survey, resupply duties at Beirut Port following deadly blast

The Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise has arrived in Lebanon to carry out survey work of the Port of Beirut and deliver vital stores to the capital city in the weeks following an explosion that had killed over a hundred people and had injured thousands more earlier this month.

The vessel has been tasked by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to support the UK government’s efforts in helping rebuild the port following the explosion, which had occurred on August 4.

Enterprise has spent the past couple of weeks loading stores from Akrotiri, Cyprus, and taking these across the Mediterranean to Beirut, including 500 canvas cots, 112 tents, and five field kitchens. Loaded up on the vessel’s quarterdeck, the supplies will be able to house and feed up to 500 soldiers from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) who are working on the relief operation.

Following the resupply operation, Enterprise conducted a full bathymetric survey at the port, measuring the depth of the water and mapping the underwater features of the harbour approaches.

Working closely with its onboard survey motor boat Spitfire, which was able to go inshore to facilitate the overall survey picture, Enterprise was able to complete the task within a day.