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
Exercise Sea Breeze 2013, the 16th iteration of the largest annual multinational maritime exercise in the Black Sea, ended July 20, as representatives from the 14 participating partner nations gathered together for the exercise closing ceremony. Naval, air, and land forces from participating countri
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
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
The Royal Navy Sailing Association (RNSA) has officially named its first racing yacht – Jolly Jack Tar – at a special christening ceremony in Gosport Marina. The 37-foot J/109 class yacht was purchased with grant money from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Nuffield Trust, Royal Navy and Roy
HNLMS Johan de Witt, the amphibious transport ship, left Den Helder on July 14th for the Horn of Africa in order to take part in counter-piracy operations being conducted in the area. Johan de Witt will take part in the EU mission Atalanta as a staff ship for 4 months. During this time, it will [&he
Sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Kent are finding that an ice-cool bottle of water can be just as important in the fight against piracy as the frigate’s hi-tech weaponry and sensors. With temperatures now reaching 40˚C off the Horn of Africa, where the Portsmouth-based warship is on counter-piracy
Whilst alongside in Djibouti port, staff from the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral, and members of the Djiboutian Navy and of the Djiboutian Coast Guard came together on board the Portuguese ship to conduct Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training to exchange maritime
Kazakhstan is considering buying two ships from the Russian Navy, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports. The ships are project 10750E minesweepers which are designed to provide anti-mine protection of water areas of naval bases and harbours, fairways, and littoral areas of the exclusive economic zone. Kazakhs
Students from Wales University Royal Naval Unit (URNU), currently deployed in the Baltic on board HMS Express, made a visit to the Swedish National Defence College (SNDC) in Stockholm on 9th July. The SNDC is an important organisation for Sweden; it aims to be an instrument for change within the are
Robert Allan Ltd. has completed the design of a new generation of more capable High Endurance Self-righting Search & Rescue Lifeboats for the Canadian Coast Guard. This new design was developed from the successful similar vessels known as the “Severn” Class operated by the Royal National Lifeboat In
US Navy Delivers Final 35-Meter Patrol Boat to Iraqi Navy The U.S. Navy delivered the final 35-meter patrol boat (PB 312) to the Iraqi navy at the Umm Qasr naval facility July 5th, after successfully completing reactivation in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia Eyes 30 Mark V Patrol Boats The Defense Security Co
Earlier this 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. An EU Naval Force warship and Maritime Patrol Aircraft closed the scene to search for survivors.
Rear Admiral Thomas Ernst, German Navy, relieved French Navy Rear Admiral Jacques de Solms as NATO’s Commander, Maritime Air (COMMARAIR) and Deputy Chief of Staff Maritime Air for NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), on Wednesday, 10 July 2013. During his tenure, de Solms led the complex consolida
