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18/04/2008
'Smashing Time' As Marines Ensure Ship Gets Proper Launch
Just a few months after seafarers spoke of 'bad omens' following technical 'glitches' at the launch of the Cunard ship, Queen Victoria by the Duchess of Cornwall - when the champagne bounced off the bow during the ceremony - P&O Cruises were taking no chances this week.
Two Royal Marine Commandos helped Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren - who most famously played The Queen on screen - to launch Britain's largest superliner cruise ship.
The Marines, part of the Royal Marines Commando Display Team, based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, abseiled off the bridge and down the side of the 116,000 tonne P&O Cruises ship 'Ventura' smashing bottles of champagne against the ship's name in front of media and 1,500 guests.
Dame Helen Mirren, who is 'godmother' of the ship, commanded the Marines in their James Bond style stunt, which took place at Southampton.
Colour Sergeant Andy Buckley of the Royal Marines Commando Display Team, who choreographed the abseil down the Ventura's superstructure, said: "We were asked to assist with the launch and the only way we could come up with this, in true Royal Marine Commando fashion, was to abseil off the side of the ship and smash the bottles of champagne.
"The main reason the Royal Marines were asked to do this is because we are successful in making these ventures happen."
Captain Rod Yapp, Officer in Charge of the Royal Marine Commando Display Team, said: "It's been quite different. Obviously it's different from our time in Afghanistan. But it's been quite daunting being in front of the world's Press and dealing with so much media attention."
Ventura is the latest addition to P&O Cruises' fleet and is the largest superliner designed exclusively for Britain.
At 116,000 tonnes she is more than 40% larger than the P&O Cruises ship Arcadia, currently the largest built for this market. At full capacity she will carry nearly 3,600 passengers and 1,200 crew.
The previous failed launch of the Queen Victoria in December - also the first such vessel to be named by a non monarch - was claimed as the 'reason' why, three weeks later, the 'Curse of Camilla' seemed to have stuck as the luxury liner has been hit by a highly contagious stomach 'flu bug.
Nearly 80 passengers on the £300million ship fell victim of the virus, which causes severe vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea.
Historically the "Cunard Queens" have all been named by a monarch.
(BMcC)
Two Royal Marine Commandos helped Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren - who most famously played The Queen on screen - to launch Britain's largest superliner cruise ship.
The Marines, part of the Royal Marines Commando Display Team, based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, abseiled off the bridge and down the side of the 116,000 tonne P&O Cruises ship 'Ventura' smashing bottles of champagne against the ship's name in front of media and 1,500 guests.
Dame Helen Mirren, who is 'godmother' of the ship, commanded the Marines in their James Bond style stunt, which took place at Southampton.
Colour Sergeant Andy Buckley of the Royal Marines Commando Display Team, who choreographed the abseil down the Ventura's superstructure, said: "We were asked to assist with the launch and the only way we could come up with this, in true Royal Marine Commando fashion, was to abseil off the side of the ship and smash the bottles of champagne.
"The main reason the Royal Marines were asked to do this is because we are successful in making these ventures happen."
Captain Rod Yapp, Officer in Charge of the Royal Marine Commando Display Team, said: "It's been quite different. Obviously it's different from our time in Afghanistan. But it's been quite daunting being in front of the world's Press and dealing with so much media attention."
Ventura is the latest addition to P&O Cruises' fleet and is the largest superliner designed exclusively for Britain.
At 116,000 tonnes she is more than 40% larger than the P&O Cruises ship Arcadia, currently the largest built for this market. At full capacity she will carry nearly 3,600 passengers and 1,200 crew.
The previous failed launch of the Queen Victoria in December - also the first such vessel to be named by a non monarch - was claimed as the 'reason' why, three weeks later, the 'Curse of Camilla' seemed to have stuck as the luxury liner has been hit by a highly contagious stomach 'flu bug.
Nearly 80 passengers on the £300million ship fell victim of the virus, which causes severe vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea.
Historically the "Cunard Queens" have all been named by a monarch.
(BMcC)
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21 February 2008
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It has been confirmed that a soldier from 40 Commando Royal Marines has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. It happened on Wednesday, with one other marine also injured in the incident, and since described as "walking wounded".
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14 November 2014
Body Found In Search For Missing Royal Marine
A body has been found in a search for missing Royal Marine, Luke Ireland. The 20-year-old was reported missing by his father when he failed to return from a run in the Cairngorms National Park. A ground and air search was launched, with almost 250 people, including around 160 Marines, joined in the efforts to find Mr Ireland.
Body Found In Search For Missing Royal Marine
A body has been found in a search for missing Royal Marine, Luke Ireland. The 20-year-old was reported missing by his father when he failed to return from a run in the Cairngorms National Park. A ground and air search was launched, with almost 250 people, including around 160 Marines, joined in the efforts to find Mr Ireland.
01 September 2011
Name of Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Released
The Ministry of Defence has released the name of the latest British soldier to be killed during the Afghanistan conflict. Sergeant Barry John Weston, from Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, became the 379th British solder to be killed during an operation in the Helmand province on Tuesday August 30.
Name of Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Released
The Ministry of Defence has released the name of the latest British soldier to be killed during the Afghanistan conflict. Sergeant Barry John Weston, from Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, became the 379th British solder to be killed during an operation in the Helmand province on Tuesday August 30.
06 June 2011
Soldier Killed In Bomb Blast
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of a British soldier in Afghanistan. The unnamed soldier was killed by a bomb while on a patrol in the Haji Kareen area of the Nahr-e Saraj district on Sunday. The soldier, was from 1st Battalion The Rifles. His family have been told.
Soldier Killed In Bomb Blast
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of a British soldier in Afghanistan. The unnamed soldier was killed by a bomb while on a patrol in the Haji Kareen area of the Nahr-e Saraj district on Sunday. The soldier, was from 1st Battalion The Rifles. His family have been told.
19 July 2010
UK Servicemen Killed In Afghanistan Named
The Ministry of Defence has now named all four of the British servicemen who were killed in Afghanistan over the weekend. Staff Sergeant Brett George Linley, 29, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistics Corps, was killed in an explosion during a counter-IED operation in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province.
UK Servicemen Killed In Afghanistan Named
The Ministry of Defence has now named all four of the British servicemen who were killed in Afghanistan over the weekend. Staff Sergeant Brett George Linley, 29, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, The Royal Logistics Corps, was killed in an explosion during a counter-IED operation in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province.
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