HMS SOUTHAMPTON is among six Royal Navy warships being completely shut down because of the strain of preparing for military action against Iraq while covering for striking firefighters.

As the country prepares for war the city's destroyer - along with HMS St Albans, HMS Exeter, HMS Glasgow, HMS Lancaster and HMS Newcastle - is becoming dormant so the crew can be dispatched to man Green Goddesses around the country.

The ships are tied up in Portsmouth naval base, with the numbers on board reduced to single figures.

Personnel from another three Portsmouth ships are also affected by the Fire Brigades Union strike.

The news comes as HMS Southampton's new commanding officer Commander Chris Hodkinson is today due to lunch with the city's mayor at the civic centre.

The Ministry of Defence's decision releases other firefighting crews so they can prepare to deploy to the Gulf.

As a result the itineraries of the four Type 42 destroyers and two frigates are frozen, probably for the duration of the FBU strike.

Many of the six ships involved have already had already lost significant chunks of their crews to strike duties, known as Operation Fresco.

Now the remaining members of the ships' companies have been told that they too are being diverted to man the pumps.

The Royal Navy is providing emergency fire cover for southern England and parts of Scotland. Southampton is currently being covered by Blue Goddesses manned by sailors from HMS Manchester.

HMS Southampton has been alongside for maintenance following one of her busiest years ever in which she spent ten months at sea in the Gulf, Mediterranean and Black Seas. She returned to Portsmouth in December.

HMS Exeter commanding officer Cdr Mark Durkin is responsible for co-ordinating emergency fire coverage for the whole of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

A Royal Navy spokesman said the Navy's current priority was to ensure there was sufficient strike cover as there were lives at stake.

"We have to prioritise the tasks," he added.

Southampton's docks remain busy loading ships as part of the military build-up against Iraq.

The Turkish cargo vessel Kaptan Burhanettin Isim, which can also carry passengers, is due to arrive at Marchwood military port today from anchorage in the Solent.

And the cargo ship Johnny is expected to leave berth 102 this afternoon, bound for the Gulf.

Greenpeace protest hindered by weather

BAD weather is putting a spanner in the works of Greenpeace's plan to blockade Marchwood Military Port and slow the "headlong rush to war".

The Rainbow Warrior is moored off the Isle of Wight weighing up its next move after being driven out of Southampton Water by a heavy squall.

On board, activists said they were "encouraged" by results of the Daily Echo survey of Hampshire residents showing more than half are opposed to conflict with Iraq.

Spokesman Stephen Tindall said: "That's very encouraging to hear that, from our point of view. We would say that while many of the public are against the war it is unlikely Blair will commit troops. So anyone who feels it is wrong - now is the time to make it known."

On Monday, Rainbow Warrior's crew had painted "No War" in 20ft letters on a supply ship destined for the Gulf and sent climbers up the sides with protest flags.

It was intended to be a blockade of the military port for "as long as it takes", up until the squall intervened.

Mr Tindall said the crew viewed the protest as a success even though it had been cut short.

"We did manage to hold up the departure of the ships," he said.