Amphibious & Support Ships
HMCS Fredericton joins SNMG 2 in the Aegean Sea
Attending the NATO Defence Ministers, meeting in Brussels, Canadian Defence Minister, Harjit S. Sajjan supported the decision and confirmed the participation of the Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Fredericton in the Aegean Sea patrols. NATO Defence Ministers, meeting in Brussels, agreed on February 11, 2
Spanish marines hone interoperability with aircraft squadron
Spanish Marine Corps Special Naval Warfare Force (FGNE in its Spanish initials) exercised with the Spanish 5th Aircraft Squadron made up of Sikorsky SH-3D helicopters in Cartagena, Spain. The purpose of the training exercise was to implement common operational procedures and enhance interoperability
Serco picks Damen’s tug for Queen Elizabeth carriers
British outsourcing company Serco has contracted Dutch shipbuilder Damen to build a new tug which will help the company support the Royal Navy carriers at Portsmouth Naval Base under a marine services contract it has with the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD). According to Serco vessel will be the firs
NATO joins the fight against people-smugglers
NATO ships will be patrolling the Aegean Sea on the look out for people smugglers in the region. The patrols will monitor migrant and smuggler movement in waters between Greece and Turkey. This decision with immediate effect came from a joint German, Greek and Turkish initiative at a NATO meeting in
MST picks James Troop for rigid inflatable boat engines
Ship engine maker James Troop & Co has won an order to supply Volvo Penta diesel engines for three European naval vessels being built on Merseyside, UK. James Troop, one of the UK’s major Volvo Penta Centres, will supply the engines for three vessels being constructed by MST (Marine Specialised Tech
UK doubles support for NATO’s maritime missions in 2016
Speaking at the NATO Defence Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced that UK would almost double its deployments to NATO at sea in 2016. For the first time since 2010 the UK will contribute to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), an enduring com
New Fleet Commander for Royal Navy
As the Royal Navy’s previous Fleet Commander has moved up the ladder to become the First Sea Lord, the Navy has welcomed his successor at a handover ceremony in Portsmouth, UK. Vice Admiral Ben Key CBE is taking up the role from outgoing Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB who is to be
Fincantieri starts work on Italian logistic support ship
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced February 9 that it has started construction works on the Italian Navy’s logistic support ship which will be built under the Navy’s fleet renewal plan. The steel cutting ceremony of the ships stern section was held yesterday at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva
HNLMS De Zeven Provinces starts Caribbean patrol
The Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (The Seven Provinces) left her homeport Willemstad, the Netherlands, for the Caribbean Sea. The first ship of the De Zeven Provincien class will be used as a station ship in the Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea. A Belgian Navy Alouette III h
Royal Navy Sea Kings support Charles de Gaulle in the Gulf
Helicopters from the Royal Navy Auxiliary Fort Victoria have been providing direct front-line support to daily strikes from the French carrier Charles De Gaulle against Daesh in the Middle East. The distinctive Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control Mk7 helicopters are scouring Gulf skies and se
UK approves another batch of funding for Successor submarine
The UK Ministry of Defence has announced an additional £201 million of funding to support further design work for the Royal Navy’s next generation of nuclear submarines. The funding is within the £3.3 billion Assessment Phase of the Successor programme and will enable BAE Systems to develop the desi
SNMG1 docks in Amsterdam to recuperate from training
Ships of the Standing NATO Maritime Group ONE (SNMG1) arrived in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for a scheduled port visit February 5, during their deployment to the North and Baltic Seas to enhance maritime security and to contribute to international stability. SNMG1’s visit to Amsterdam precedes the
NATO’s SNMG2 takes shape
German Navy’s combat support ship EGV Bonn, together with the Italian frigate ITS Libeccio and the Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton, headed for the eastern Mediterranean. Turkish frigate TCG Barbaros joined them in Aksaz, Turkey. The group conducted a range of drills before and after their port cal
ITS Cavour conducts helicopter interoperability drills
Italian aircraft carrier, ITS Cavour, currently flagship of the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia, on February 3 carried out cross training with the Norwegian Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessel Siem Pilot using one of its embarked helicopters. An Italian EH-101 helicopter took off from ITS Cavour testi