A British warship visited the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in August 2026 to train with the TCI Regiment in disaster response and medical training. The HMS Trent’s visit represented part of an ongoing effort by the United Kingdom and its overseas territories to respond effectively to hurricane-related disasters. Trent embarked members of 24 Commando Royal Engineers on Providenciales for the training, which included road clearing and emergency first aid.
The TCI Governor’s Office posted on Facebook that the visit demonstrated the strong partnership between the British Overseas Territory and the U.K. “(It was) a productive visit bringing together training, operational readiness and community service — strengthening the longstanding partnership between the Royal Navy and the Turks and Caicos Islands, while building the skills and relationships that matter when we need to respond together,” the post stated.
HMS Trent arrived in TCI on August 23 for a multiday visit that included refurbishing a school. The ship, a 90-meter River-class Batch 2 offshore patrol vessel, has deployed several times to the Caribbean region, including disaster relief aid after Hurricane Melissa’s landfall in Jamaica in October 2025. The ship’s latest deployment demonstrates “the U.K.’s ongoing commitment to supporting disaster preparedness, resilience and security across the Caribbean,” according to Force News, a news site focused on the British military.
The Commando Royal Engineers practiced chainsaw techniques with members of the TCI Regiment and conducted emergency medic training. Trent crew members also helped prepare two primary schools for fall classes by painting and refurbishing the campuses on Grand Turk, the TCI Governor’s Office stated. “HMS Trent’s visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands has been about partnership in action — strengthening our preparedness, sharing skills and giving back to our communities,” the TCI Governor’s Office wrote in an August 27 Facebook post.
During its voyage from Providenciales to Grand Turk, several TCI disaster response agencies met with the crew to gain greater understanding of effective disaster response. Two members of the TCI Regiment, an inspector from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the director of TCI Red Cross and the deputy director of TCI’s Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources learned about the Trent’s operational capabilities and shared their expertise on TCI’s operating environment. “These opportunities matter. Building relationships and understanding each other’s capabilities before an emergency means we can integrate more quickly, coordinate more effectively and make the best use of the resources available when responding to a crisis,” the governor’s office posted on Facebook.
While in TCI, the Royal Navy’s 700X Naval Air Squadron demonstrated unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology designed to rapidly assess disaster-affected areas, enabling resources to be prioritized. HMS Trent launched the Malloy T-150B UAS for the first time from a River-class ship. The Malloy is a quadcopter that can fly for 40 minutes while carrying up to 68 kilograms. Its thermal imaging capabilities allow it to fly day or night with a range of up to 37.5 kilometers, the Royal Navy said.
The UAS can quickly deliver food, water and medical supplies to communities isolated by disaster. “This new capability is a fantastic addition to our toolset for humanitarian aid and disaster relief,” said Trent’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Gavin Lowe, in an August 21 news release.
HMS Trent will patrol the Caribbean region during hurricane season. The TCI Regiment made its first overseas deployment since its 2020 founding when members traveled to Jamaica to assist in disaster relief efforts after Melissa.