Six Years In – The Royal Navy minecountermeasure presence in the Middle East is marking six years of keeping the Gulf waters safe.    Since the end of 2006, Britain has maintained a permanent minehunter presence in the region – currently with the Hunt Class Minecountermeasure Vessels ATHERSTONE and QUORN and the Sandown Class Minecountermeasure Vessels SHOREHAM and RAMSEY.   The initial deployment of two vessels was increased to four in 2008.      To sustain these four warships in Bahrain, there is a permanent cadre of engineering staff in port, with the ship’s companies being rotated every six to seven months.   The planning assumption (which is being worked) is that these vessels are rotated back to the UK for a refit every three to three and a half years.    An overseeing specialist battle staff, drawn from either from 1^st Mine Counter-Measures Squadron (Faslane), or 2^nd Mine Counter-Measures Squadron (Portsmouth) currently embarked on the Landing Ship RFA CARDIGAN BAY.