Front Street has been visited this week by a Royal Navy ice patrol ship.

The HMS Protector, a 292ft vessel, usually patrols the Antarctic where it conducts surveys and assists with efforts to enforce environmental guidelines.

According to the Royal Navy, the vessel is equipped with two cranes capable of lifting up to 60 tonnes of stores and equipment.

The ship, originally called the MV Polarbjørn, the Norwegian word for polar bear, was first launched in 2001 in Norway as a polar research icebreaker.

The Royal Navy chartered the ship in 2011 as a temporary replacement for the HMS Endurance, but the Royal Navy purchased the vessel outright in 2013. The ship is expected to remain in port until Sunday, when will sail for Miami.

Government House did not respond to a request for information on the reason for the vessel’s stop in Bermuda.