BDF in partnership with EUREC4A
BDF Media Release| 22 Jan 20
Photography credit: Able Bodied Seaman Bryan T
The Barbados Defence Force in partnership with the French Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) commenced a scientific campaign in the Caribbean Sea from 10 January – 29 February onboard the French oceanographic vessel the Atalante.
The research campaign called EUREC4A, will take place partly in the seas under the jurisdiction of Barbados. Its aim is to observe the ocean and atmosphere system in the western tropical Atlantic taking into account the hydrological and low-atmosphere observations at the ocean meso-scale.
Mr. Robbie Deane the director of deployment operation at Sail Drone, stated that they will be launching the last sail drone (SAILDRONE 1060) for the atomic partnership mission during the January phase of the project. This process is expected to last approximately 60 days for the first period and another 180 days for the second phase.
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Professor Karen Harewood, the principal scientist from the University of East England stated that this will be the first time they will be launching the drone AUTONAUT. She further mentioned that this type of research was being conducted in Barbados due its geographical location, as the most easterly Caribbean island.
The Barbados Defence Force in its partnership with the Sail Drone Company will provide a launch base and other support services to the project at the Barbados Coast Guard. Both drones will be monitoring different aspects such as wind speed, the speed of the water, solar radiation, water current and air temperature. The Barbados Coast Guard operational updates will be provided to all mariners to keep clear of the drones, via CH 16 VHF and 4.4478hz HF.
The team as expressed their satisfaction with the keen support provided by the Barbados Defence Force and envisages that this strategic partnership will be developed greater in the near future.
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Highlights
Commodore (Cdre) Errington Ricardo Shurland was appointed Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) on 1 September 2021. He enlisted in the BDF in February 1984 and in a military career spanning over 34 years, has served in various operational and administrative appointments.
Colonel Glyne Grannum joined the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) on 18 October 1985 and underwent career development training at the Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School, Chilliwack and the Combat Training Centre, Gagetown New Brunswick, Canada. He subsequently attended the Infantry Training Centre and the Signal Wing in Warminster, UK (PCBC and RSO Courses respectively), the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy; the Lester Pearson Canadian Peacekeeping Centre, the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, Kingston, the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, Toronto, the National Defence University of the People’s Liberation Army People’s Republic of China and the Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies, National Defence University, Washington. He also attended a Defence Resources Management programme at National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, Canada. In addition to being a qualified infantry officer, Col Grannum is a qualified Regimental Signals Officer and a former Operations Officer and Finance Officer of the BDF.
Colonel Banfield joined the Barbados Battalion of the South Caribbean Force in 1941 having just left the Cadet Corps at Combermere School, and was granted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1942. He was a Platoon Commander and a Company Commander during the war and served in Barbados, Dominica (as part of the Gale Force), St Lucia and St Vincent.
Warrant Officer Class 1 Colin Marshall is a graduate of the St Michael, and was born on the 5 November 1969 and enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force on 16 August 1994. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in August 1997, Corporal in 1999, Sergeant in 2007, Color Sergeant in 2014, Warrant Officer Class Two in 2017 and Warrant Officer Class One in 2020. He was Most Outstanding Student on Junior Leadership Course in 1998, the Most Outstanding Student on Junior Non Commissioned Officer Cadre in Jamaica in 2000, best at Leadership on the Search Adviser Course in Jamaica in 2007 and the Most Outstanding Student on the Warrant Officer Course in Jamaica in 2015.
