ROYAL Navy warship HMS Portland has arrived in warmer waters to offer humanitarian support.
Portland's namesake frigate is visiting Barbados to carry out essential mid-deployment maintenance and repairs.
It is in the region for the hurricane season, ending next month, and is ready to respond in the event of a humanitarian crisis.
While in capital Bridgetown, the ship has conducted a fire fighting exercise with 18 local fire officers.
Commander Mike Utley said: "It was a pleasure to host this exercise and build on the strong links our two countries have."
It is hoped that, as well as building confidence in the island's fire service, the exercise will have established help on offer to the warship from the island.
HMS Portland recently gave assistance in Belize after Hurricane Dean hit the region.
At other times the Devonport-based unit patrols the Atlantic and western Pacific conducting maritime anti-drug operations.
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