The U.S. Coast Guard will decommission the high endurance cutter Boutwell during a ceremony held at Naval Base San Diego, March 16. The cutter has been in service for 48 years and will now be transferred to the Philippine Navy under the Foreign Military Sale Program through the Foreign Assistance Ac
U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) departed Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor March 13, for its first strategic deterrent mission since 2011. Kentucky recently completed a 40-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO) to extend the life of the submarine for another 20 y
Canadian Minister of Public Services and Procurement announced the signing of two contracts with Seaspan worth $65.4 M under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) for Vancouver Shipyards Co. The two new contracts will allow Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards Co. to initiate early discussions with pote
Information solutions company CACI International announced March 10 that it has been awarded a contract to support the U.S. Navy’s Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center (NAVSUP BSC). The five-year contract which, if all options are exercised, could amount to $809 million, represents n
U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has awarded BAE Systems a two-year contract to support its Special Communications Mission Solutions Division with a range of technical services. Under the contract, valued at $34 million, BAE Systems will support and maintain the life c
The Royal Netherlands Navy Commodore Rob Kramer visited U.S. Navy’s dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry during exercise Cold Response 2016 on March 8. Cold Response is a biennial Norwegian exercise featuring maritime, land and air operations to underscore NATO’s ability to defend against any threat i
Soldiers from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Republic of Korea, along with the Bonhomme Richards strike group and ROK Navy vessels started exercise Sang Yong 16 in the Republic of Korea on March 9. Ssang Yong, which translates to “Twin Dragons,” is a biennial combined exercise conducted by Nav
The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard a $28,243,900 contract to carry out selected restricted availability work on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76). An SRA includes the planning and execution of depot-level maintenance, alterations, and modifications that wi
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) arrived in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to begin conducting counter illicit trafficking operations in support of Operation Martillo, March 2. Operation Martillo (Spanish for “hammer”) is a U.S., European and Wester
U.S. Navy’s 14th Virginia-class submarine, USS Washington (SSN 787), was christened at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries on March 5. Ship sponsor Elisabeth Mabus, daughter of Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, smashed a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow to ma
Two U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships, USS Kearsarge and USS Boxer have received Battle Effectiveness (Battle “E”) awards. The officers and crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) were awarded March 3, while USS Boxer received its Battle E for the fifth consecutive year on March 6
USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), a U.S. Navy Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship homeported in Mayport, Florida, is participating in Exercise Cold Response 2016. Fort McHenry will be the only U.S. Navy vessel participating in this operation, providing support for U.S. Marines as well as Navy constructi
UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on March 3 announced additional £642 (approx. $907.2M) million of investment for the Successor submarine programme. New parts and facilities, as well as further design work will be funded by the latest investment which will help to progress work on the four new
Sailors onboard the U.S. Navy dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Base San Diego, March 1. With the traditional exchange of salutes, Cmdr. Thomas S. Stephens turned over command of Rushmore to Cmdr. Sarah H. DeGroot, who had previously served as the shi
