HMS Medway has completed an eventful year thousands of miles away in the Caribbean.

The off-shore patrol vessel provided disaster relief during the hurricane season and played a key role in a major drugs bust – seizing 400kgs of cocaine worth £24 million.

Throughout the hurricane season, which runs from mid-summer to the end of November, the ship carries a crisis response troop – Royal Engineers of 24 Commando Regiment – and emergency supplies including bottled water, food, generators and tools to carry out repairs.

She responded twice in a matter of days in September in the wake of Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian.

She arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands just 12 hours after Fiona hit, where the team helped to repair the perimeter fence around the airport and restore generators at the prison.

HMS Medway then responded to Ian after it struck the Cayman Islands, turning up within four hours of the storm.

Petty Officer Fred Noakes, the ship's meteorologist, said: "Although this year has seen fewer storms than previously, we have seen some intense periods of tropical cyclone development – the Caribbean experienced the most active November for hurricanes on record.

"Overall, this has made for a rewarding assignment, made all the better for being able to provide assistance and support.”

Between storms, the ship and her commandos have worked with communities’ disaster relief teams to build relationships, and share skills to enable a rapid response in the event of a future emergency.

The engineers joined islanders in the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium to celebrate independence day for Antigua and Barbuda, taking part in community projects and helping with repairs to a care home.

They also trained alongside the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force highlighting demolitions techniques.

Capt Sebastian Cooke RE, crisis response troop commander, said his team had taken a lot from the experience of spending several months at sea – and ashore – with Medway.

He said: "We enjoyed the opportunity to land ashore and provide support and assistance following the hurricanes.

“Their versatility and adaptability enabled a wide range of support tasks to be completed under tough conditions, helping these islands to quickly recover from storm damage."

The ship has clocked up 10,000 miles on her autumn patrol and will now undergo a routine maintenance period in Jacksonville, Florida.

The 90-metre vessel sailed into Chatham – her spiritual home – for her commissioning ceremony at the former naval base in September 2019.

Then captain Cmdr Ben Power said: "This is the only time the ship will be formally commissioned into the Royal Navy and will have a 25 to 30-year lifespan.

"I think to come to your namesake river and to Chatham, which is so uniquely connected to the Royal Navy, is a complete honour.

"As we deploy, we will always represent Medway and take a little part of Medway with us wherever we go.

While on her visit to Chatham HMS Medway was given the freedom of the Towns.