Amphibious & Support Ships
DCNS Refits French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle
The French Navy’s Fleet Support Service (SSF) signed off on the completion of the intermediate refit of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle after six months’ work by DCNS. From hull to combat system, without forgetting compliance tests to the latest environmental standards, communicat
HMS Echo Finds a String of Sunken Wrecks off Libya
The waters off Libya have provided rich pickings in one of the most fruitful periods of survey work ever carried out by the Royal Navy in recent years. In ten days’ work the Devonport-based survey ship found a string of sunken obstacles and wrecks – including what is believed to be a sunken amphibio
NRP Álvares Cabral Hosts Medal Hand-Over Ceremony
During their recent port visit to Djibouti, the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral held a medal ceremony on board. The ceremony was presided over by the EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Jorge Novo Palma and the Commanding Officer of NRP Álvares Cabral, Captain Nuno Sobral Do
HNLMS Karel Doorman Departs Romania
Joint Support Ship ‘HNLMS Karel Doorman’ departed Galati, Romania, on July 22nd, and headed to the last stage of construction execution in the Netherlands. It is expected that the vessel will reach Vlissingen in 3 weeks. It has been two and a half years since the keel was laid and the works on the v
HMS Defender Impresses Japanese Sailors
The Royal Navy’s newest commissioned warship played host to 36 Japanese sailors who have stopped off in Portsmouth during a round-the-world deployment. Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender opened her gangway to newly-commissioned officers from the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force who enjoyed a tour of
British Navy Welcomes First Merlin Mk2 Helicopter into the Fleet
The first of the UK’s fleet of next-generation anti-submarine maritime patrol Merlin Mk2 helicopters have been delivered to the Royal Navy. The 5 helicopters have been handed over to the Fleet Air Arm following an upgrade as part of a £750 million contract with Lockheed Martin. Fitted with advanced
BMT Group to Display Its Portfolio at DSEI Event
BMT Group Ltd, the leading international design, engineering and risk management consultancy will showcase its capabilities and designs across the naval, land and air domains at the prestigious DSEI event, to be held at London’s ExCeL in September. This will include the launch of two new and excitin
Meteoro Sets Sail for Atalanta, Indian Ocean
Maritime Action Ship ‘Meteoro’, homeported in Las Palmas (the Canary Islands), departed on deployment on July 15 to participate in counter-piracy operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean. The farewell ceremony was presided over by the Flag Officer of the Canary Islands Naval Command Gregorio Bueno M
HMS Lancaster on the Lookout for Drug Trafficking
Following a successful drugs bust on the island of Anguilla, a Royal Navy warship is now fully engaged in her new counter narcotics role. HMS Lancaster, one of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, recently helped the Royal Anguilla Police Force track down a series of cannabis plantations on the island
UK: Royal Marines Training Unit to Move to Amphibious Centre
The Royal Marines small craft training squadron will be arriving at a new multi-million pound amphibious centre in the South West next week. The unit of specialist amphibious assault troops (10 Landing Craft) Training Squadron Royal Marines and craft is moving permanently from its base at Royal Mari
UK: New EU NAVFOR Deputy Operation Commander
On 19 July 2013, Read Admiral Eric Dupont (French Navy) handed over the role of Deputy Operation Commander (DCOM) of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta to Rear Admiral Jean Martens (German Navy). The handover took place at the Operation Headquarters (OHQ) in Nort
EU NAVFOR Welcomes Chinese PLA Navy Counter Piracy Admiral
On Thursday 11 July, Commodore Jorge Novo Palma, who is the Force Commander embarked in the EU Naval Force’s counter piracy flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral, welcomed on board Rear Admiral Yuan Yubai and a delegation from the Chinese PLA Navy. Rear Admiral Yuan Yubai commands the Chinese PLA Navy’s coun
EU NAVFOR Helicopter Overflies MV Albedo, FV Naham 3
Last week EU Naval Force confirmed that the Malaysian flagged Motor Vessel, MV Albedo, held by armed pirates in an anchorage close to the Somali coast since November 2010, had sunk in rough seas. Since then EU Naval Force warships and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft have conducted sea and air searches in
UK: HMS Protector Cancels Visit
The Royal Navy’s HMS Protector, which had been due in the port of Ipswich from July 19-24, has been forced to pull out of her visit for operational reasons. The 90-metre Antarctic patrol vessel visited the Suffolk port last year and is affiliated to the City of Cambridge, home of the British Antarct