Aviation
Top News of the Week Dec 2 – 7
Fire aboard Indian Navy Ship Indian Navy warship INS Konkan caught fire during repair in Vizag on Wednesday, as informed by the Indian Express. INS Konkan, a Pondicherry class minesweeper acquired from Russia, was undergoing a refit at naval base Vizag when the accident occurred. Australian Warships
Dutch Navy Commissions PV Groningen into Service
“Today we conclude a long period of development, design, construction and trials. Many professional hands have contributed to the realisation of this outstanding ship.” Those were the words of the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom, in Den Helder on November 29 a
HMS Montrose Hosts Sheik in UAE
HMS Montrose hosted a member of one of the most influential clans in the United Arab Emirates during a port visit to the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, five other sheikhs and representatives of the port authority and customs agencies were welcomed onboard to
USA: CBG Systems Nabs JHSV Flight Deck Contract
CBG Systems, an Australian based specialist in the marine insulation and lightweight passive fire protection, announced that in addition to its ongoing contracts for the JHSV platform it has now secured a contract for the insulation of the flight deck of the next 7 JHSV vessels (Hulls 633 to 639) wi
LHD Ship Prepares for Transit to Australia
On Monday, Australia’s second Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship departed the Navantia Ferrol Dockyard in Spain for a short trip south to Vigo, where she will be loaded onto the Dockwise Heavy Lift Ship (HLS) Blue Marlin for transit to Australia. Weather permitting, Blue Marlin is scheduled to depar
Australian Navy Intercepts Illegal Foreign Fishing Boats
A joint agency operation targeting illegal foreign fishing in the Torres Strait has led to the apprehension of seven illegal foreign fishing boats from Papua New Guinea and the return of almost one tonne of live sea cucumbers to Warrior Reef. Sea cucumbers (also known as bech de mer) are considered
UK: Royal Navy Helicopter Helps Injured Lifeboat Crew Member
A Royal Navy helicopter has winched an injured lifeboat crew member to hospital in strong winds and heavy seas around five miles west of the Mull of Kintyre. The crew of Campbeltown Lifeboat, a Severn-Class vessel, was called to the aid of a 60 metre, 2000 tonnes fish farm boat which had lost rudder
Nimitz Strike Group Stops in Pearl Harbor
Just a few days shy of the 72nd anniversary of the Japanese attack on U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor, Sailors and Marines manned the rails of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as they entered the harbor Dec. 3. Passing by the USS Arizona memorial, the crew on board Nimitz paid tribute to their [
ESPS Tornado Joins EUNAVFOR
On Tuesday 3 December, Spanish Ocean Patrol Vessel, ESPS Tornado joined the European Union’s counter piracy task force operating off the coast of Somalia. The warship will be part of the EU Naval Force for four months as Spain’s contribution to Operation Atalanta. Commissioned in 2012, ESPS Tornado
HMS Illustrious’ Busy Bees Render Relief to Philippines
Since arriving in the Philippines, HMS Illustrious and her ‘floating warehouse’ of emergency supplies have been a hub of activity. The Royal Navy’s amphibious aircraft carrier arrived in the Philippines on 25 November after a short stop in Singapore to load up 500 tonnes of humanitarian aid under th
UK: HMS Explorer Joins Forces with Police
University boat HMS Explorer joined forces with police on the Humber – one of a series of demonstrations to movers and shakers in East Yorkshire. The small patrol craft, which serves Yorkshire Universities Royal Naval Unit, has been running various ‘sea days’ for civic and business leaders in the Hu
UK: HMS Montrose Celebrates Andrew’s Day
HMS Montrose marked her Scottish connections with a flight deck St Andrew’s Day celebration whilst on deployment to the Gulf. The Type 23 Plymouth based Duke Class frigate has longstanding ties with Scotland. To celebrate the Scottish link, the ship took a few hours aside from maritime security oper
UK: New Helicopter Trains Aboard HMS Monmouth
The Royal Naval frigate HMS Monmouth has conducted the first in-service landings of a new helicopter on board at sea. The Wildcat of 700 Naval Air Squadron from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset landed on the flight-deck of the Plymouth-based ship to conduct the flight deck landings of t
Royal Navy Starts Delivering Aid to Philippines
Helicopters from HMS Illustrious have begun to deliver aid, people and equipment to small Philippine islands devastated by Typhoon Haiyan over a fortnight ago. The Portsmouth-based helicopter and commando carrier arrived in the region to the north of Panay on Monday and immediately began surveying n