On 26 August, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Commission Vice President, Catherine Ashton visited the French EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) warship La Fayette during her visit to Kenya and Somalia. She was welcomed on board by the Com
On August 28 German EU Naval Force Frigate Sachsen came to the aid of AL SACIID, a cargo dhow adrift due to a problem with the steerage gear. The Sachsen was advised of the dhow’s predicament by a Japanese MPRA (Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft) patrolling the area. Having established goo
Explorers returned yesterday to the wreck site of HMS Hood as an ambitious attempt to raise the ship’s bell from the seabed resumes. If successful, the aim is to bring the bell back to Portsmouth to serve as a permanent memorial to all 1,415 men lost when the battle-cruiser sank in 1941. The ambitio
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Middleton returns to Portsmouth on Friday (31/8) after spending three years on operations in the Gulf. The ship operated out of Bahrain conducting counter-piracy and security patrols and exercises with coalition forces. She was part of a four-strong RN mine warfare force wh
After her involvement in the London 2012 Olympics, the crew of HMS Bulwark is preparing to serve as the hub for the security effort surrounding the Paralympic sailing events. The assault ship will serve as the command and control centre for maritime security operations around Portland for the durati
Festivities associated with keel-laying of the fourth Project 21631 corvette will take place at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard (Tatarstan, Russia) on Aug 29, 2012. Project 21631 corvettes (small-size guided missile ships) built for Russian Navy are multipurpose ‘river-sea’ class vessels equipped with up-t
An ensign-hoisting ceremony was held on Aug 26 in Vladivostok on the new Project 12200 Sobol-class patrol boat built for Russian Coast Guard… (rusnavy) [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, August 28, 2012; Image: Almaz
Indian Navy’s INS Tarkash (F46) frigate, built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, has passed her state sea trials in the Baltic Sea with flying colors, ITAR-TASS informed on Aug 25. INS Tarkash forms part of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates ordered in 2006 by the Indian Navy und
Pacific Fleet (PF) task unit consisting of destroyer Admiral Panteleyev, seagoing tug Fotiy Krylov, and replenishment oiler Pechenga… (rusnavy) [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, August 28, 2012; Image: Navy
On 24 August 2012 the Force Commanders from the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR), NATO Operation Ocean Shield (TF-508) and Combined Task Force 151 (operated by the Combined Maritime Forces – CMF) met on board the EU NAVFOR flagship ITS San Guisto (Italian Navy) to further enha
Denmark’s three new frigates in the IVER HUITFELDT class, Iver Huitfeldt (F361), Peter Willemoes (F362), and Niels Juel (F363) have cruised together for the first time out of Denmark’s coast. Terma has delivered a number of mission-critical solutions for the Danish frigates, including the SCANTER 60
After having taken part in the Ocean Shield counterpiracy operation, HNLMS Evertsen arrived back in her home port of Den Helder on 18 August. Defence Minister Hans Hillen emphasised the importance of the mission for the Netherlands. “Our prosperity depends, after all, on free trade, the unimpeded tr
