A LARGE ship spotted off the Aberystwyth coast at the weekend has been confirmed as the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate, HMS St Albans.
But the Coastguard has told the Cambrian News there is nothing for residents to fear, and that the frigate was just patrolling UK waters as part of a routine exercise.
The website Marine Traffic reports that the frigate travelled northwards up the Ceredigion coast on Sunday afternoon before heading towards Northern Ireland, its last known location.
HMS St Albans passed Cardigan at 12.16pm and New Quay at 1.23pm on Sunday.
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The frigate then turns and heads as if preparing to enter Aberystwyth harbour, before turning back on itself and heading out into the Irish Sea.
Coastguard Divisional Commander George Crumpler told the Cambrian News this week: “The ship is a Royal Navy frigate which was just passing around the UK as far as I am aware.
“These ships do tend to wander about — it is basically a patrol, or exercise.”
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