The ship will also be standing by to provide humanitarian assistance in the event of a natural disaster in the area. The ship deployed from her home port of Portsmouth on 30th June and is currently making her way towards her first stop in Bermuda.

During the next few months the ship's operational patrols will be interspersed with 12 other visits, including Jamaica, Belize, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela, as well as some of the smaller Caribbean islands.

The visits will provide opportunities to assist in the training of local defence forces as well as providing well-deserved rest and recreation.

Richmond's Commanding Officer, Cdr Mike McCartain, said "Our deployment to the Caribbean is a chance to make an impact on the illegal trafficking of drugs in the area as well as promoting wider British interests throughout the region."