White Ensign at London Boat Show
The British Royal Navy looks set to be a major draw at the London Boat Show, which opens at the ExCel exhibition centre 12, January 2013.
The Navy will be at the London Boat Show for visitors to learn more about naval life and how, every minute of every day, somewhere in the world they are protecting the nation’s interests.
The Navy stand will include an opportunity to get up close to an advanced Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC). Measuring 9 metres long and able to travel in excess of 35 knots, the craft were part of the Navy’s commitment to keeping the public safe during the Olympic Games. The ORC can also be equipped with general purpose machine guns, making them a highly-flexible and potent deterrent.
At the Boat Show, a Navy search and rescue Mark 5 Sea King will take to the skies beside ExCeL at 1400hrs on Saturday, 12 January, to illustrate what a rescue operation entails. The renowned Mark 5 is now the Navy’s workhorse of choice, operating in extreme conditions and ready to respond at a moment’s notice in an emergency.
A four-man crew from 771 Naval Air Squadron in Cornwall will manoeuvre the helicopter with precision to make a simulated rescue from the dock. The helicopter will return on Sunday, 13 January, for a further demonstration at 1130hrs before heading back to its Cornish base.
