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Dutch Frigate Joins EU Navfor
On Monday 19 May 2014, Dutch frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provenciën joined EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. As the ship sailed towards the Gulf of Aden the crew maintained a high level of operational readiness. They conducted a hostage release exercise with a Dutch merchant vessel
UK’s Latest Hunter Killer Submarine Enters the Water
Waters lap around the 97m-long hull of Britain’s newest submarine as HMS Artful was lowered into a huge basin in Barrow for the first time. The third of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class nuclear submarines was launched over the weekend in a delicate two-day operation. The boat was formally named last
HMAS Sheean Participates in Anti-Submarine Exercise
The Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarine HMAS Sheean has taken advantage of a mid-ocean encounter by getting in some anti-submarine warfare practice on its way to Singapore for a major exercise. HMAS Sheean will participate in Exercise Bersama Shield 2014 with other Australian Defence F
MH370: ADV Ocean Shield Arrives at Geraldton, Australia
ADV Ocean Shield arrived at Geraldton, Western Australia, yesterday to begin preparations to receive spare parts related to the transponder mounted on the Ocean Shield and the transponder mounted on the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Bluefin-21. The repairs are necessary to correct a hardware issu
Royal Australian Navy Brings Injured Merchant Mariners Ashore
Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Wollongong has made a mercy dash to embark two injured Australians who were rescued by an Indonesian merchant vessel in the Arafura Sea. An Indonesian registered civilian offshore supply ship, MV POSH Shearwater, initially responded to a vessel in distress ca
Operational Tanker Drops Anchor in Sydney, Australia
The Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Base West based operational tanker, HMAS Sirius, entered Sydney Harbour this week as part of a visit to Garden Island on the east coast. At over 190m in length, and displacing more than 46,000 tonnes with a full load, Sirius is currently the largest ship in the Na
UK Launches First Ever Strategy for Maritime Security
Publication of the UK’s first ever National Strategy for Maritime Security, launched on May 13th at the UK Chamber of Shipping by the Shipping and Armed Forces Ministers, is a major step forward for the shipping industry, according to the UK Chamber of Shipping it demonstrates the UK’s commitment to
CFB Esquimalt Hosts Delegates from NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Forty-five delegates from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which provides an essential link between NATO and the parliaments of NATO nations, visited Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt on Friday, May 2nd to discuss security developments in the Asia-Pacific region and their significance for Canada.
Chief of RAN Receives Singapore’s Prestigious Military Award
The Chief of Navy of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Vice-Admiral (VADM) Ray Griggs, was conferred Singapore’s prestigious military award, the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) [or the Meritorious Service Medal (Military)] by President Tony Tan Keng Yam. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presented
MH370: Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Recovered
The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Bluefin-21, has been recovered about two hours into its first mission since returning to the search area so a communications problem could be investigated. During the recovery, Bluefin-21 was damaged but was able to be repaired expeditiously with spare parts on b
Greece: Phoenix Express 2014 Kicks Off
Phoenix Express 2014, a multinational maritime exercise between North African, European, and U.S. naval forces, commenced its inport phase at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operation Training Center (NMIOTC) in Souda Bay, May 13. The U.S. Africa Command-sponsored exercise, now in its eighth year,
HMS Pembroke to Sail into Pembroke Dock
The Royal Navy’s HMS Pembroke will sail into Pembroke Dock next week to support the Dockyard Founders Day celebrations. Arriving at No1 Berth Pembroke Dock on May 13, the 52.5 metre ship will remain in port until Saturday (May 17) – and she has two rather proud Pembrokeshire locals on board. “It i
HMAS Darwin Seizes 449 Kilograms of Heroin
HMAS Darwin operating in the Indian Ocean in international waters, 40 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia, intercepted a suspected drug smuggling dhow on 13 May 2014, seizing 449 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $132 million dollars. Darwin’s Commanding Officer, Comma
U.S. Defense Secretary Urges Expanded Cooperation in Gulf Region
The importance of expanded cooperation in the Gulf region was the theme of U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s remarks today at the Gulf Cooperation Council defense ministerial conference. Defense ministers from all six member nations, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Ara