HMS RICHMOND, having used a large proportion of her medical and disaster relief stores in Grenada and Grand Cayman, took the opportunity for a well earned rest in San Juan, Puerto Rico this week.

The visit gave the opportunity to replenish on essential stores allowing the Ship’s Company to recharge their batteries after the hectic activity of the previous three weeks.

Hurricane Jeanne had passed over Puerto Rico a few days before we got there but the island was relatively lightly hit, suffering only minor damage to buildings and over head structures. Being quite used to visiting islands that have just been hit by a Hurricane, it was a pleasant change to find running water, ample food and electrical power.

Puerto Rico has a very American influence, being a member of the commonwealth of the United States, despite its Spanish roots, and is quickly developing a reputation for being one of the shopping capitals of the Caribbean. Getting off the ship for a break, the Ship’s Company made the most of the hot sunny weather but still had to shelter from the occasional thunder storms and torrential rain.

Fully restored and rested, RICHMOND sailed for the island of Montserrat, a UK dependent territory, a day further to the south. The island was the scene of Disaster Relief operations in 1995, when the Mount Soufriere volcano erupted engulfing the capital, Plymouth, on the south side of the island. Volcano tours, at a safe distance, are popular with the rare opportunity to view the devastating effect of a different type of natural disaster.