Survey ship HMS Scott took a break from charting the oceans to visit one of the most remote islands in the western hemisphere.

St Helena, last home to Napoleon, was the unusual stop-off for Scott on the latest stage of her mammoth deployment.

The Atlantic isle, just 47 square miles in size and with a population of 7,000, is best known as the French leader’s ‘prison’ from 1815 until his death six years later, following his exile from France after defeat at Waterloo.

Scott’s crew took advantage of their brief break to tour St Helena, while the ship hosted a reception for the Assistant Governor and families of Service personnel living on the island.

The ship has spent the bulk of her deployment in the Indian Ocean gathering data for military and commercial shipping, before rounding the Cape of Good Hope to enter the Atlantic.

Scott stopped at Cape Town for seven days, allowing a working party from the ship to head ashore to support an ambitious community project in the Nyanga Township, by laying the foundations for a home for a family who would otherwise be living in much worse conditions.

Scott left her home port of Devonport last November. By rotating her crew of 63 – 42 sailors are on board her at any one time – the survey ship is available for operations on more than 300 days each year, while her crew can plan leave, training and career progression with some degree of certainty.