In early March, the warship ITS MIMBELLI, currently deployed in support of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD, wrapped up a port visit to Antisiranana, Madagascar. The purpose of the visit was to pursue the ongoing cooperation with the Malagasy authorities in efforts to eliminate sea pir
On Friday, 7 March 2014, Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) carried out a major damage control exercise near the island of Corfu. The exercise included a focus on basic seamanship exercises, including firefighting, steering gear breakdown, man overboard, medical casualty, speedb
The search for the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which lost radar signal in the early hours of Saturday, when it was flying over the Ho Chi Minh air traffic control area in Vietnam, is intensively underway. Nine countries are contributing to the search 24/7 across the South China Sea for the ai
On March 8th, the US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) received a distress call from a grounded Turkish Flagged Container Vessel, Yusuf Cepnioglu. When Bataan’s Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter arrived on-scene the Hellenic Coast Guard was responding to the listing Turkish vessel
The newest Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) arrived in Antalya, Turkey for a scheduled port visit, on March 9. “This port visit is designed to strengthen maritime security working with our Turkish partners,” the Navy said in a release. Aside to scheduled
Russia Sinks Ship to Block Ukrainian Navy Ships The Russian Navy Ochakov Kara-class cruiser was sunk last night to block the Ukrainian Navy ships deployed in Novoozerne, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said in a press release today. The information was confirmed by the Ukrainian military of the So
During FS Siroco’s port visit to the Seychelles, 20 trainees from the Basic Training course for the Seychelles Coast Guard embarked for electronic navigation equipment training. The training was supported by staff from EUCAP Nestor. The trainees received practical and theoretical instruction in ho
A recent Operation Atalanta medal parade held in Djibouti marked the end of the Serbian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachments (AVPD) tenure with the EU Naval Force. The Operation Atalanta medal parade was conducted by the Officer in Charge of the Djibouti Support Element Atalanta (SEA) Commande
Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachny entered yesterday the Ukrainian territorial waters and eventually docked at the port of Odesa. “Today (March 5), Hetman Sahaydachny has entered the Ukrainian territorial waters having participated in Ocean Shield and Atalanta counter-piracy operations; now she
On Sunday, 2 March 2014, NATO’s counter-piracy task force Commander, Rear Admiral Eugenio Diaz del Rio, paid a visit to HNLMS EVERTSEN, currently deployed with Operation OCEAN SHIELD. This was the first time the Admiral went on board the Dutch warship since she joined the operation on 7 December 201
The Royal Navy’s HMS Montrose captured on 16th of January from the ship’s LYNX helicopter. HMS Montrose joined the fray the alongside HNOMS HELGE INGSTAD and the Merchant vessel “Artic Futura” in support of the Nato lead Op RECSYR off the coast of Cyprus. Naval ship HMS Montrose has set sail to co
Four Royal Navy officers have spent the winter with the task group of France’s flagship Charles de Gaulle on her key deployment to the Gulf. A Lynx pilot, a fighter controller – who directed Rafale and Super Étendard jets – and two staff officers joined the carrier task group for three months as p
The U.S. Navy’s first-in-class joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) departed Rota, Spain March 2, as the ship now sets sail to the waters off Africa to participate with Africa partners in a series of engagements and exercises. Since departing her homeport in Virginia Beach, Va., Spearhe
On Thursday, 27 February 2014, NATO’s counter piracy warship TCG GELİBOLU (F-493) concluded a visit to Dar es Salaam to reinforce relationships with Tanzanian Navy and to support regional capacity building efforts. During the 3-day port visit, the Commanding Officer of TCG GELIBOLU, Commander Olca