IT was a case of “Welcome home, son “ when the fisheries protection vessel HMS Mersey arrived in the Medway this week.

The ship’s navigation officer is Lieut James Norwood, who comes from Gillingham.

He was met at Chatham Docks by his father, Ken, and sister, Clare.

The captain of HMS Mersey Lt Commander Al Wilson later met with Medway Mayor Cllr David Carr at the mayor’s parlour.

HMS Mersey, which has just completed a two-week patrol in the North Sea, was on a routine visit to Chatham.

The 2,100 ton vessel is one of the Royal Navy’s River Class warships, which patrol the seas around Britain in all weathers. Fishery duties include checking fishing vessels and their nets to ensure fish stocks are properly maintained.

Last week Mersey was able to meet and congratulate yachtsman Adrian Flanaghan, as he completed a two-year circumnavigation of the globe – via both the Poles.

The ship is due to leave Chatham on Friday morning when it heads back to the North Sea to resume patrol.