The Mayor of Gibraltar Nicholas Guerrero, on behalf of the people of Gibraltar, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commanding Officer of HMS Stirling Castle Phil Harper, formalising the affiliation of Gibraltar with the Royal Navy Vessel.

The agreement is the first of its kind, outlines that each organisation will openly offer its assistance to the other, and recognise and promote each other’s strengths and expertise, to mutual benefit.

The MoU was signed on the vessel’s Bridge, in the presence of the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and His Excellency the Governor Sir Ben Bathurst.

His Worship the Mayor, Nicholas Guerrero, said: “I’m honoured to sign this MoU on behalf of Gibraltar with HMS Stirling Castle, which formalises the lasting friendship between our Rock and the vessel.”

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: “This Memorandum of Understanding represents and formalises many years of Gibraltar’s affiliation with HMS Stirling Castle, as with the wider Royal Navy. It is fitting that the first agreement of this kind is with the namesake of the vessel that repatriated so many of Gibraltar’s evacuees from the United Kingdom after the war, the RMMV Stirling Castle. Gibraltar is proud to be a home-from-home to the Stirling Castle and to the UK Armed Forces.”