Authorities
ESPS Reina Sofia Rescues Innocent Somali Crew
On Saturday 14 April Spanish warship ESPS Reina Sofia, who is now operating as part of the EU’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, stopped a Yemeni dhow that was suspected of carrying armed Somali pirates. The French Air Force Awacs E3F, FS Dixmude and her helicopters, as well as an Austral
FS Marne Gets Busy Replenishing Counter-Piracy Task Force
Having taken over as the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) flagship on 7 April 2012, French warship FS Marne has already been very busy out at sea ensuring that the Task Force remains fully prepared for counter-piracy operations off Somalia. In her first 3 days the ship has carried out a number of replenish
UK: Royal Navy Helicopter, HMS Illustrious Take Part in Joint Warrior
The Royal Navy helicopter and commando carrier, HMS Illustrious, has joined one of the largest military exercises in Europe. The exercise, which includes participants from the UK, USA, Germany, Netherlands, France, Norway, Denmark and Canada, will take place between April 16 and 26 and is designed t
Pacific Fleet Task Force Sets Course for Yellow Sea
Pacific Fleet (PF) task force comprising Guards missile cruiser Varyag, destroyers Marshal Shaposhnikov, Admiral Vinogradov, and salvage tug SB-522 left bases setting a course for the Yellow Sea. There it will meet destroyer Admiral Tributs, tanker Pechenga, and seagoing tug MB-37 heading from the G
HMS Westminster Intercepts Suspicious Dhow in Indian Ocean
£14m of drugs used to fund terrorist activity will never reach their destination thanks to a major bust by HMS Westminster. The Portsmouth-based warship intercepted a suspicious dhow in the Indian Ocean, seizing over 70 bales containing more than 180kg of pure heroin. The Portsmouth-based frigate po
German-Owned Freighter Loaded with Military Equipment, Ammunition Stops Near Syria
A German-owned freighter loaded with military equipment and ammunition heading to Syria, was stopped on Friday 50 kilometres (31 miles) away from the Syrian port Tartus, a German Magazine Der Spiegel reports. The ship “Atlantic Cruiser”, leased to a Ukrainian company, White Whale Shipping, was inter
UK: HMS Sherwood’s Reservists Return from Major Exercise
Three “blue-nosed” Reservists from HMS Sherwood in Nottingham have returned from a major exercise inside the Arctic Circle The biggest war game of the winter, involving 16,000 service men and women from 12 nations, was played out amid the Norwegian fjords and mountains in the harshest of winter weat
UK: Naval Forces Converge on Scotland for Joint Warrior Exercise
Warships from across the globe – including a dozen Royal Navy warships, submarines and auxiliaries – are converging on Scotland for the largest military exercise staged in home waters in many years. Thirty two naval units, plus soldiers and air forces – some 8,000 personnel in all from eight nations
France: Bureau Veritas, Securymind Join Forces to Protect Ships Against Piracy
Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has joined forces with French maritime security consultants Securymind to provide an auditing and verification service for companies providing armed guards to protect ships against piracy. Security companies offering services to shipping wi
HNLMS Van Amstel Officially Starts Counterpiracy Mission
After passing through the Suez Canal on 1 April, the multipurpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel officially began its participation in EU Operation Atalanta. The Van Amstel will contribute to the mission against pirates operating off the coast of East Africa up to the end of May 2012.Operation Atalanta is
Dutch Ships to Track Pirate Camps on Somali Coast?
Pirate camps on the Somali coast may now also be tackled from Dutch ships. The Dutch Government approved the expansion of the Atalanta counterpiracy mission and informed the House of Representatives of the decision on 6 April. However, military personnel will not set foot on land for the purposes of
J+S Shows Interests in Middle East Market
Following their successful entry into the Far East market in 2011 Barnstaple based engineering firm J+S Ltd have been making inroads into the Middle East. The company have just returned from exhibiting at the 2012 Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) at the Qatar Na
Qatar: HMS Daring Attends DIMDEX
HMS Daring has flown the flag for the Royal Navy – and UK industry – at the biggest naval showcase in the Middle East. Britain’s most advanced warship, on her maiden deployment, was joined by minehunter HMS Quorn in Qatar at the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference. HMS Dari
DCOM EUNAVFOR Visits Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft Detachment
Rear Admiral Rainer Endres, Deputy Commander (DCOM) EUNAVFOR, as part of his recent visit to Djibouti to oversee the Operational Handover between the outgoing Flag Ship, ESPS PATINO (Spain) and incoming French Flag Ship FS MARNE , took the opportunity to visit the Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft D