[1] While the naval and airbase facilities on Diego Garcia are leased to the United States as Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, in practice, the base operates as a joint UK-US base, with the United Kingdom retaining full and continual access.
The base serves as a staging area for the buildup or resupply of military forces prior to an operation.
[3] Prior to 2017, the BIOT Patrol Vessel the MV Pacific Marlin was based in Diego Garcia.
[5] The vessel reportedly operates in conjunction with personnel from NP 1002 on both fisheries and military enforcement tasks/exercises and also carries scientists/researchers involved in a range of research work, particularly conservation.
[7] In 2022, Grampian Frontier tracked a Mauritian-charted vessel temporarily bringing Chagossian exiles to Blenheim reef in the archipelego.