The last day of February for the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 was also the last day of “Beneficial Cooperation”. During the two-week operation in the English Channel the ships of SNMCMG1 located and disposed of 8 individual pieces of underwater explosive ordnance (UXOs) with a total of
Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures ship USS Guardian (MCM 5) concluded 23 years of service to the Navy during a decommissioning ceremony March 6 at Naval Base Sasebo, Japan. The 79 Guardian crewmembers participated in the event held to signify the end of an era and to honor the legacy that Guardian
Between 26 February and 5 March 2013, French warship FS Courbet, operating as part of EU Naval Force counter piracy mission Operation Atalanta, together with an embarked Estonian Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD), escorted a World Food Programme (WFP) ship that was carrying much-needed food and aid
On March 5, at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Sestri Levante, Genoa), there was a ceremony to mark the cutting of the first sheeting for the sixth Fremm vessel. This is a further step in the European Multi Mission Frigate construction program, the most important joint initiative to date amo
HMS Richmond was pleased to welcome Mr Douglas Bell of the Royal Naval Association (Newbury Branch) for a short visit whilst the Ship was alongside HM Naval Base Portsmouth recently. Mr Bell (a former Charge Chief Petty Officer with 28 years service in the Royal Navy) had come onboard primarily to v
The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy is an initiative of the Canadian Government to build new ships for the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard. Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards won the right to bid on the non-combat vessels under this strategy, and as such is proceeding with a $200
Budding submariners undergoing training at the Submarine Qualification Centre, at Devonport Naval Base, can now take a break from their lessons in a newly refurbished recreation area thanks to a grant from the Royal Navy’s re-balancing lives fund. The grant of £2,400 has paid for new furnishings inc
A unique link-up between the Royal and French Navies – which saw a British helicopter deploy with a French warship on anti-piracy patrol – has been hailed a success. The frigate FS Surcouf returned to Toulon at the weekend after a three-month patrol of the Indian Ocean with a Lynx of 815 Naval Air S
The potential for Type 45 destroyers to help protect deployed UK and Allied forces from threat of ballistic missiles is to be investigated. Building on its relationship with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the joint Ministry of Defence and industry-run UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC) has agreed
Two of the New Zealand Navy’s Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) have steamed over 5000 nautical miles – six times the length of New Zealand – in the past four weeks patrolling New Zealand’s coastline. HMNZ Ships ROTOITI and TAUPO have been hard at work patrolling New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (E
ANADOLU Shipyard which has successfully completed and delivered 8 LCTs (Landing Craft Tank) to Turkish Navy during 2012 has also accelerated its work on LST project in the first weeks of the year 2013. ANADOLU Shipyard has signed a contract with Turkish SSM (Undersecretariat of Defense Industries) t
The 2012 Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (SUBLANT) Senior and Junior Sailors of the Year (SOY) were announced, March 6. The winners were recognized by Vice Adm. Michael Connor, Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, during a luncheon held at the Vista Point Center, Naval Station Norfolk. “As the u
The complex maritime world is facing evolving threats on daily basis, lurking from different parts of the globe. Therefore, it is up to the current industry leaders to innovate their way through piracy infested seas and come to grips with safety threats via cutting-edge technologies. An example of s
Sailors from Portsmouth-based HMS Iron Duke have marched back on board following the ship’s 11-month refit. The 170 crew have rejoined the Type 23 frigate following her upgrade carried out by BAE Systems in Portsmouth Naval Base. Iron Duke will soon return to sea for an intensive few months of sea t
