The “Zheng He” oceangoing training ship of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) which was deployed on the “Harmonious Mission – the ‘Zheng He’ oceangoing training ship’s voyage around the world” passed through the Panama Canal successfully at 02:00 of July 9, 2012, local time, PLA
Submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) is returning to her homeport in Guam after a six-month overhaul in dry-dock, July 7. The dry-docking was a scheduled overhaul to repair and preserve the hull and engineering areas of the ship. “The last time the ship was docked was in 2004, and this overhaul
The crew of the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarine HMAS Farncomb are preparing to test themselves in a realistic warfare scenario, off the coast of Hawaii. The submarine is here for RIMPAC 2012. With 22 nations taking part, it is the largest exercise of its kind in the world. HMAS Farnc
High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) hosted training with Kenyan Sailors during a two-day port visit that ended July 7 in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) East 2012. Twenty-four members of the Kenyan navy took part in classroom engagements focused on port security, leadership, infantry tactics
Guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) arrived in Odessa, Ukraine to participate in Exercise Sea Breeze 2012, July 7, during the ship’s maiden deployment. Participants and observers from 19 countries will work together during Sea Breeze, the largest multinational maritime exercise in th
As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to deploying every available source of American energy and reducing reliance on imported oil, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced new funding available to pursue new i
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates USS Underwood (FFG 36) and USS Curts (FFG 38) conducted vertical replenishments at sea with USNS Sacagawea, July 5. During the six-hour evolution Underwood took on 60 pallets of stores, supplies and ammunition. The original plan called for Underw
Vigor Marine, L.L.C., Portland, Ore., is being awarded a $9,563,687 firm-fixed-price contract for a 55-calendar day regular overhaul and dry-docking of Military Sealift Command’s Fleet Replenishment Ammunition Ship USNS Rainier. The ship’s primary mission is to provide fuel to U.S. Navy ships at sea
Textron, Inc., New Orleans, La., is being awarded a $212,722,820 fixed-priced incentive-fee contract for the detail design and construction of a ship to shore connector (SSC) test and training craft and technical manuals. The SSC program is the functional replacement for the existing fleet of landin
International military students from America’s partner nations are learning how to become Navy Divers at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), Panama City, Fla. The international students are eligible for five courses of study taught throughout the year: The International Diving cour
Sailors assigned to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) spent time working alongside their Colombian counterparts as they made repairs on the Colombian cutter Valle del Cauca while moored in Bahia Malaga, Colombia July 3. The Colombian and U.S. Sailors were ab
The U.S. Navy’s first afloat forward staging base-interim, USS Ponce (AFSB-I), arrived in Bahrain for duty in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), July 6. Prior to arriving in theater, Ponce, formerly designated as an amphibious transport dock (LPD), was converted and reclassified as an
Australian Defence Force personnel have been praised for their ongoing commitment to disaster response and humanitarian civic assistance in the Asia-Pacific region as the first ADF medical contingent rotates home from Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12). PP12 Mission Commander Captain Jim Morgan (US Nav
Australian sailors, soldiers, airmen and women have joined defence forces from 21 other nations, including France, Canada and Russia, for Exercise RIM-OF-THE-PACIFIC (RIMPAC 12) in the islands of Hawaii. Approximately 1100 Australian Defence personnel are among 25,000 personnel participating in the
