The Navy’s winter clampdown on piracy in the Indian Ocean – which has just ended – has been its most successful crackdown on the scourge to date. But the senior officer who led the four-month operation against the pirates says despite a series of successes by RFA Fort Victoria, and other allied vess
The first Joint Strike Fighter designated for the Netherlands has had its jet engine installed. The Netherlands has thus far ordered two of these F-35 fighter aircraft as test aircraft. Personnel of Lockheed Martin installed the Pratt & Whitney engine, which measures 5.5 by almost 1.5 metres. Produc
Ukraine is about to impose new taxes on Russian naval base in Sevastopol, writes Kommersant on Feb 15. The issue of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet (BSF) deployed in Crimea was raised on Feb 14 at the meeting of Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Konstantin Grischenko on o
Armament, mechanisms, and radioelectronics of Baltic Fleet (BF) frigate Yaroslav Mudry have proved high degree of reliability during long-range cruise within Russian Navy’s carrier group. The ship was deployed at different latitudes and climatic zones, and has proved capability to accomplish tasks o
High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift arrived at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 14, to prepare for the final stop of its four-month mission during HSV-Southern Partnership Station 2012 (HSV-SPS 12). Swift stopped in Cuba to on-load more than $4 million of Project Handclasp supplies scheduled to
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) hydrographic ship GS-86 returned from survey mission in the Black Sea Fleet. Within the responsibility zone of BSF Hydrographic Service spreading from Ai-Todor Cape to Tarhankut Cape, the crew has performed night inspection of lighthouses and marine lights, tested leading beaco
The Royal Australian Navy’s 723 Squadron has begun 2012 on a high tempo as they prepare to upgrade their capability. The 723 Squadron’s Retention and Motivation Initiative (RMI) program currently operate three AgustaWestland A109E helicopters under lease from Raytheon Australia. The aircraft were re
A new automated chemical warfare agent detection capability that successfully passed operational tests aboard USS Mason (DDG 87) will be installed on warships throughout the fleet, Navy officials announced Feb. 15. The Navy plans to install the new system – designed to quickly alert warfighters to t
A new state of the art global anti-piracy centre has been unveiled in Portsmouth, helping Shipowners and Charterers to save hundreds of thousands of pounds on Maritime Security. The centre opens one week before senior representatives from around the world arrive in the UK to discuss breaking the pir
Sailors and coast guardsmen from several African nations are gathered in Lagos, Nigeria, to participate in the start of Africa Partnership Station 2012 (APS), Feb. 14. APS is part of an ongoing international effort to assist African nations to improve maritime safety and security. The security coope
The first of 5 Steber Navy support vessels was launched on 9th February, 2012. MV Koala will stay in the Manning River for a couple of weeks undergoing tests and trials before heading to its new home in Sydney Harbour. Among the onlookers at the launch were representatives from NSW Maritime; NSW Mar
OceanWorks International has announced the successful delivery of a major system upgrade, Lloyd’s certification renewal and completion of sea trials for the Turkish Navy’s Atmospheric Diving Suit system. After 5 years of operation, the Turkish HARDSUIT™ Atmospheric Diving System (ADS) was returned t
The Navy announced Feb. 14 the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will shift its layberth from Baltimore, Md., to Naval Station (NS) Norfolk. Comfort’s current layberth contract in Baltimore runs through May 2013, if all options are exercised. The Navy plans to execute the layberth shift on or abo
Britain’s flagship paid a surprise visit to the German port of Kiel when ice stopped her sailing into Hamburg. The threat of being stuck on the Elbe thanks to the cold snap dominating Europe led to HMS Bulwark visiting the home of the German Fleet instead as she begins her winter deployment. Ice on
