Courtesy Photo | CARIBBEAN SEA - Chief Propulsion Officer aboard HMS Severn (P282), Petty Officer Derek...... read more read more
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By MC1(SW) Dan Meaney
CARIBBEAN SEA – As Chief Propulsion Officer aboard HMS Severn (P282), Petty Officer Derek Wilkinson’s primary responsibility is to ensure a steady stream of power to those in command and control of the British Royal Navy ship.
Working with partner nations during Tradewinds 2015 though, he finds himself doing far more than leading his junior engineers through the demands of maintaining the Menn B&W V-12, 4.125Kw, four-stroke, twin tubo-diesels.
“We’ve visited 21 countries on this deployment and had the Jamaican Defense Force, Belize Coast Guard, Mexican Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy and U.S. Navy on board in just the last three days,” said Wilkinson. “This is the great thing about Tradewinds 2015 – we’re learning to work together and we’re building lasting relationships.”
The multinational flavor of Tradewinds is one of the special features of the exercise. Throughout the world, many exercises maintain a distinctly regional character with participants from local countries working together.
“Here we have Europeans, North Americans and Central Americans working and living together and we’re doing a bit of everything,” he said. “From painting schools to classroom instruction to actual hands on training and at-sea scenarios. I'm hosting some Canadian Sailors in my engine room today.”
Tradewinds is a combined, joint U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise and an opportunity for the participating partner nations to come together to enhance regional maritime security.
| Date Taken: | 06.20.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2015 12:32 |
| Story ID: | 167509 |
| Location: | BZ |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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