LAST SHIP OF SFOR LEAVES CROATIAN PORT

SPLIT, Jan 6 (Hina) - A British ship named "Fort Grange" was the last ship of the international peace keepers in Bosnia-Herzegovina (SFOR) to leave the Croatian port of Split. On Thursday the vessel put out to sea from the northern port in the Croatian coastal city of Split where it stayed over one year. Since 1993 "Fort Grange", used for logistic support to SFOR troops in Bosnia, has been deployed in the Croatian territorial waters three times. From April 1997 up to now it stayed in the northern port in Split. British Lieutenant Jenny Smith said this ship was of great help to SFOR. It help transfer about 800 tonnes of food for international peace keepers in Bosnia every month. Its captain and officers held many parties and celebrations aboard the ship and regularly visited local authorities. The crew of Fort Grange organised several humanitarian actions. They raised funds valued 830 pounds for a youth centre conducted by Catholic priests in Split. The ship crew also helped provide a school in the town of Dubrovnik with books. They cleared waste around the monument in Milna on the island of Vis. They had good ties with the centre for the fight against drug- addiction in the Split hinterland. For one week Croatian skin-divers removed shells and weed from the hull and propeller to make it possible for the ship to sail out of the harbour. On Thursday morning this ship of SFOR set forth on its next voyage. (hina) ms