HMS Echo undertook freedom-of-navigation activity supporting Ukraine and hosted the British defence secretary at Odesa in 2019. She also filled fishery-protection duties when another patrol vessel deployed elsewhere. At Australia's request, Echo joined the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, applying her survey sensors to a global civil emergency. These missions demonstrate that hydrographic ships provide useful presence and specialist search capacity even when they are not producing routine charts.
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HMS Echo from Ukraine presence to the search for MH370
Echo's deployments show how a survey ship's endurance and sensors can support diplomacy, constabulary work, and major searches.