Meet the female crew of HMBS Nassau – including three standard setting standouts.

(Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera) One of the largest vessels in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) fleet, the HMBS Nassau, powered into the port of Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, shortly after 6pm on Whit Monday, May 28, 2012, after having traveled up from the island of San Salvador earlier the same morning, as part of a four day patrol around the waters surrounding Eleuthera and nearby islands.

Senior Lieutenant Natasha Miller, Executive Officer on board the HMBS Nassau, explained, that the patrols around the waters surrounding Eleuthera were, in fact, as a result of the heightened illegal immigrant activity witnessed on island in recent weeks and months, saying, “We’ve been doing our regular patrols, in search of illegal migrants, smugglers and poachers,… and we hope that there is never an opportunity for any illegal vessel to get ashore”.

(L-R) Able Woman Marine Anishka Bonaby, Woman Marine Anicka Hart, Senior Lieutenant Natasha Miller – Executive Officer HMBS Nassau, Chief Petty Officer Ida Mae Ferguson, Able Woman Marine Mickela Brown, Able Woman Marine Crystal Christie, and Able Woman Marine Jemma Butler.

The 179 foot,  HMBS Nassau, captained by Lieutenant Commander Raymond King, and its 44 crew personnel on board included 7 female crew members, touting three standouts, representing major firsts within the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.  Senior Lieutenant Natasha Miller, Executive Officer on board was the very first female in the history of the Force to attain the elevated rank some 10 months ago, after passing rigorous certification. She was joined by Woman Marine Anishka Bonaby, who is presently the only female on the Force to have attained special certification as a Diver, as well as Chief Petty Officer Ida Mae Ferguson – who was amongst the very first female recruits to join the RBDF.

It’s stop into Governor’s Harbour was a well deserved brief port of call for the defence force personnel on board, who had the opportunity to stretch their legs and visit with family and friends during the evening, before heading back out to sea and on to New Providence on Tuesday morning.  Initially, a training visit had been planned for Eleuthera in the week prior to the port of call, but according to Sr. Lt. Miller, the inclement weather experienced across the Bahama islands during that time forced a change in mission.

Patrols are done every two weeks, utilizing the fleet’s two largest vessels in alternation for two to three week periods, said Sr. Lt. Miller, with waters around Eleuthera being patrolled during those periods.  She also shared that during this most recent trek, no vessels were intercepted, and it was an uneventful patrol.