Have you ever wondered what life is like onboard a real military ship? Well here’s your chance to find out! The HMS Bangor will be arriving at Eisenhower Pier, Bangor on March 16th for the start of a five day visit.
The weekend’s main event will see HMS Bangor throw down her gangway to welcome the general public from 12 Noon – 5pm on Saturday 19th March. Admission to the ship will be free so come along with family and friends to marvel at this wonderful vessel and see close-up, what life is really like onboard.
HMS Bangor is a 600 tonne, Sandown Class Minehunter commissioned by the Royal Navy and launched by Lady Lisa Spencer in 1999 at Southhampton Docks. She is named after our very own Bangor and is the second Royal Navy vessel to bear the name. She is 52.5m in length and has a max speed of 13 knots.
HMS Bangor is the first navy ship in over 15 years to be closely affiliated to Northern Ireland and has other official affiliations with the town of Bangor, Bangor Combined Cadet Force and Bangor Grammar School. She is also closely affiliated with Clifton Special School, the ship’s adopted charity.
Senior Naval Officer, Commander Don Crosbie said: “We are really looking forward to being back in our hometown to renew old acquaintances and hopefully make some new ones. We are especially looking forward to a visit from our friends at Clifton School on the Friday and greeting members of the public when they visit the ship on Saturday.”
On Monday March, 21st the ship will spend the day on the Lough.