Ocean survey ship HMS Scott renewed her links with the Canadian Navy as the country celebrated Canada Day.

The ship, on a North Atlantic survey programme, sailed into Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a routine watch change and a shore break from duties.

While in port the ship was dressed overall, along with other vessels, to mark the national celebrations and to meet up again with colleagues from the Royal Canadian Navy.

Lt Linda Lawrence, of HMS Scott, said: “We were delighted to renew our links with the Canadian Navy, who made us very welcome last year, and made available a prime berth in their dockyard close to the city centre.

“As it was Canada Day during our stay we were overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome.

“The evening firework display, just off the stern of the ship, was most impressive.

“Nova Scotia is infamous for its fog, and we sailed out into a thick fog bank on departure, emerging a week later in the mid-Atlantic having seen nothing more than the bow of the ship.”

The ship has already covered 40,000 miles and spent 130 days surveying since the New Year.

Since leaving her home base of Devonport last November, Scott has operated in the Indian Ocean, conducting her bread-and-butter business of gathering hydrographic and oceanographic data for commercial and military use.

She then moved to the Atlantic for a summer programme of work.