French shipbuilder DCNS delivered ‘Gamal Abdel Nasser’, the first of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers, to the Egyptian Navy on June 2. The LHD (Landing Helo Dock) ships were acquired by the Arab Republic of Egypt on October 10, 2015. Built by STX France in Saint-Nazaire the two Mistral-class ve
Royal Australian Navy’s Adelaide-class guided-missile frigate HMAS Darwin has seized almost one tonne of heroin in three separate busts off the coast of Africa. The frigate made the interceptions, worth up to AU$800 million in late May while deployed to the U.S. Navy led Combined Maritime Forces. Wi
Ships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy 22nd Escort Task Group came alongside in Simon’s Town, South Africa for a formal visit from May 16-20, 2016. The visiting group was constituted by Luhu-class destroyer Qingdao, Jiangkai II-class frigate, Daqing and the Taihu replenishment ship, Taihu. The
Dutch shipbuilder Damen has delivered four of its Damen SPa 1605 ballistic protected security patrol vessels to C&I Leasing, a Nigerian provider of offshore support vessels. According to Damen, the patrol boats will be used to provide security patrol and escort services for LNG tankers calling in an
Crewmembers aboard the U.S. Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) recently participated in an abandon ship drill while in its homeport at Naval Base San Diego. Mercy is preparing for Pacific Partnership 2016, the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparednes
German Navy’s tanker support ship, FGS Spessart, joined Operation Atalanta on May 11, as part of Germany’s contribution to the EU’s efforts to deter and disrupt piracy off the coast of Somalia. The ship departed the Wilhelmshaven base and set sail for the Horn of Africa on April 15, 2016. Under the
Spanish offshore patrol vessel ESPS Tornado, currently deployed to Operation Atalanta, recently visited the Seychelles. During the port visit Spanish sailors co-operated with Seychelles forces. The training began with theory lessons on board ESPS Tornado and was followed by practical training on Sai
A small team of about 20 Royal Danish Air Force officers and enlisted men fly along the coast of Somalia, verifying shipping activity, distinguishing legitimate maritime traffic from suspected pirate vessels and identifying probable pirate activities off the coastline of Somalia. The crew operates a
Nigerian Navy personnel have intercepted a marine tanker codenamed MT Marina for suspected illegal bunkering of automotive gas oil (AGO). According to the Nigerian Navy, the vessel was laden with 100 metric tons (MT) of suspected illegal refined AGO at the time of the arrest on April 28, 2016. MT Ma
Spanish Navy frigate Santa María (F-81) set sail from Rota Naval Base to integrate into the EU-led counter-piracy Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean until the end of September. The farewell ceremony was presided over by Commander 41st Escort Squadron, Captain Ramón Godín. Operation Atalanta is a
French Navy frigate Aconit has joined Combined Task Force 152 (CTF 152) whilst carrying out maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf. CTF 152 is one of three task forces that make up Combined Maritime Forces and is charged with ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Arab
Germany Navy tanker FGS Spessart will depart Wilhelmshaven, Germany on April 18 to join EUNAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta at the Horn of Africa. The Rhön-class tanker has just completed a planned harbor phase in Wilhelmshaven. The works on the ship have been concluded on schedule and the ship will deplo
Spanish Navy offshore patrol vessel OPV Atalaya currently deployed to Western Africa, has conducted a series of cooperation exercises with the National Navy of Cameroon between March 28 and April 8. The training activities were divided into two phases: the first one was organized in port in areas re
The German Navy has been flying their Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) with EUNAVFOR’s Op Atalanta for the past seven years, and last week the MPRA Detachment reached an impressive 5,000 flying hours off the coast of Somalia. The German aircrews fly missions several times a week, u
