On 7 December 2012, in Djibouti, Rear Admiral Antonio Natale, assumed command of Operation Ocean Shield, NATO’s counter piracy mission from Cdre Ben Bekkering (Royal Netherlands Navy) who has completed a successful 6-month deployment in the region. After a short port visit, the flagship will commenc
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced on December 7 that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has been awarded a $54 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for life-cycle engineering and support services on the U.S. Navy’s USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class of amphibious transport docks. This is the third
In a ceremony held on board EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) warship ITS San Giusto in the port of Djibouti, Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino (Italian Navy) handed over force command of EU counter piracy Task Force 465 to Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes (Spanish Navy). The name of the new EU NAVFOR Fla
Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) held a change of command ceremony in the USS Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall aboard Recruit Training Command Dec. 4. Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne relieved Rear Adm. David F. Steindl as commanding officer. “Rear Adm. Steindl’s legacy from his tour as the NSTC Commander wi
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) will not be able to attend the international anti-piracy campaign in the Gulf of Aden by the end of the current year… [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, December 7, 2012; Image: Sevastopol
HMS Echo took eight would-be navigators to sea as experienced sailors assessed whether they had ‘the right stuff’ to guide Her Majesty’s ships on the world’s oceans. The survey ship was used by staff and students on the Fleet Navigating Officers course – which sets the benchmark for all navigators o
Two dozen Royal Navy personnel oversaw a concerted effort to tackle terrorism and piracy in the seas east of Suez. Over five days, an international force of warships and Coast Guard vessels, focused their attention on either side of the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating the Arabian Peninsula a
HMS Blyth has begun the 3,000-mile journey for home on the Clyde after completing six months leading a NATO minehunting force in the eastern Mediterranean. The Sandown-class ship has left Aksaz in Turkey and will be back in Faslane in time for an emotional reunion with families before Christmas. The
The Royal Navy has welcomed its newly appointed Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff at a handover ceremony in Portsmouth. Vice Admiral Phil Jones has taken up the role from outgoing Fleet Commander, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, who will continue his NATO role, Commander Maritime Command
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works has received a USD 70.4 million contract to exercise option year 1 for DDG 51 and FFG 7 class integrated planning yard services. The DDG51 is the United States Navy’s first class of destroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multi-function phased a
The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is conducting sea trials in collaboration with Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) to train Sailors and ensure operability of equipment and systems, Dec. 3. The ship is preparing for the upcoming training cycle and 2013 deployment following the successful
The Director of Combined Maritime Forces in the Gulf region says international efforts have led to a fall in piracy attacks against merchant shipping and local fishing dhows but the risk to trade remains high. The International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre reported just one attemp
The crew from Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand are proud to be sailing home to their base port of Constanta after completing Romania’s first counter piracy operation as part of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia, Operation Atalanta. ROS Regele Ferdinand joined EU NAVFOR at the beginning of
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare and Attorney-General and Member for Gellibrand Nicola Roxon today visited the BAE Systems dockyard in Williamstown, Melbourne, to view progress on the construction of Australia’s largest ever warship. Australia is acquirin
