THE Duke of Edinburgh is to visit various parts of Kent later this year, it has been announced.

He is making visits to Dover and Deal on December 1 as Master of the Corporation of Trinity House, and he will open the new site of The Caldecott Foundation in Mersham-le-Hatch, near Ashford.

At Dover, he will go on board the Trinity House vessel Alert at the port, and he will also visit the Trinity Homes in St Clare Road at Walmer.

Alert, which came into operation this year, is a Rapid Intervention Vessel, capable of buoy handling, wreck marking, towing and multibeam and side scan hydrographic surveying.

At 39.3 metres long, she is fitted with a range of high specification survey equipment and to the highest and most modern technical standards. She has a service speed of 15 knots and a maximum speed of 17 knots.

Alert primarily covers the southeast coast where she is able to respond rapidly to any maritime incident.

In addition, Alert can be used as a research platform with her large working deck that can be used for scientific equipment and sampling work.

Available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, she has accommodation for an additional five people.

No times have yet been announced for the visit.