News Release

Royal Navy's HMS Northumberland Sails into Boston for week-long visit at National Parks of Boston, Charlestown Navy Yard

Date: November 1, 2019
Contact: Paolo DiFabio, British Consulate-General Boston, 617.245.4512

Frigate HMS Northumberland will sail into Boston for a week-long visit after traveling alongside the HMS Queen Elizabeth and the HMS Dragon on deployment along the US east coast.  

The Plymouth-based Type 23 frigate is slated to arrive in Boston this weekend, and after sailing through Boston Harbor will make its way to the Charlestown Navy Yard to berth alongside the USS Constitution, with her ship’s company lining the upper deck in full ceremonial uniforms.

HMS Northumberland is one of the Royal Navy’s 13 Type 23 frigates, originally designed to deal with the Soviet submarine threat. But in the years since their original design, the frigates have proven their versatility by dealing with virtually every mission imaginable across the globe, receiving upgrades and new systems to ensure they remain a formidable force.

She carries 190 sailors on board, and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and missile systems designed to protect the ship and wider Royal Navy fleet from attack.

As a high-readiness unit, HMS Northumberland may be called upon at any time to help prevent arms trafficking, people smuggling, conduct counter-terrorism operations, maritime search and rescue, or escort duties. She is equipped with a Merlin helicopter of Culdrose-based 814 Naval Air Squadron, state-of-the-art radar and the Royal Navy’s new Sea Ceptor missile system.

In Boston, HMS Northumberland’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ally Pollard, will be hosting a range of local events on board including a lunch and an evening reception with local representatives. Ahead of HMS Northumberland’s arrival in Boston, Commander Pollard said:

"This has been a particularly intense period of work for HMS Northumberland. It is always a privilege for us in the Royal Navy to come in to a US port, particularly one with such a rich maritime history as Boston, which will undoubtedly provide us such a warm welcome." She added, "The ship has had an extremely busy few months at sea and it is testament to the fantastic crew and all their hard work that our deployment so far has been a real success."

"It is an honor to welcome HMS Northumberland and her crew to the navy yard and support the long standing friendship and diplomacy between Great Britain and the United States," said National Parks of Boston Superintendent, Michael Creasey. "Charlestown Navy Yard has an extensive maritime history and the National Parks of Boston's Visiting Ships Program provides the opportunity to explore this history and at the same time experience the navy yard as an active port."

While docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard HMS Northumberland will be open to visitors: follow the British Consulate (@UKinBoston) on Twitter and the National Parks of Boston website at www.nps.gov/bost for more information on the exact dates and times the ship will be open to the public.