U.S. Navy’s Blue Ridge-class command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) on May 16 departed Gaeta, Italy, to prepare for the upcoming BALTOPS 2016. BALTOPS is an annually recurring multinational exercise designed to demonstrate resolve of allied and partner forces to defend the Baltic region. Mount Whit
The U.S. Navy is looking to deploy a small, tube-launched unmanned aircraft system that deploys from under the surface of the sea, on manned submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles. The system is named Blackwing™ and is being developed by the American technology company AeroVironment. AeroVironm
Dutch Navy’s air defense and command frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802) intercepted 320 kilos of drugs in the Caribbean Sea between Venezuela and Jamaica. Four suspected drug smugglers were arrested during the operation. A Caribbean Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft discovered a small, fast
GE Marine Solutions, a subsidiary of the U.S. engineering giant General Electric, announced it would provide two LM2500 aeroderivative marine gas turbines for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s (JMSDF) new 8,200-ton class Aegis destroyer. The turbines will be installed by IHI, the Tokyo-based c
Officially known as the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard, EMILY is a remote-controlled buoy recently used to rescue nearly 300 Syrian migrants from drowning off the Greek island of Lesbos, Office of Naval Research officials announced May 5. Outfitted in bright orange, red and yellow colors, e
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba returned to its homeport in Boston, May 1, following a 70-day patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During its 12,000 nautical mile patrol, the Escanaba interdicted over 1,200 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of heroin, and seven suspected narcotics traffickers.
Eight air department Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) played a critical role as part of Task Force Chenzai, the Japanese earthquake relief effort near Kumamoto, Japan, from April 18-23. The team joined forces with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroye
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing boater in Tampa Bay, Florida, Thursday afternoon. At 11:52 a.m. on Tuesday, watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a mayday call via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 from a woman aboard a 24-foot boat reporting her fri
U.S. Navy’s guided missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Decatur (DDG 73) are scheduled to depart their homeport of Naval Base San Diego, California for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. They will deploy as part of Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) under Destroyer Squad
The Indonesian-hosted international naval exercise Komodo 2016 concluded on April 16 as the ships concluded the sea phase of the exercise. The sea phase lasted for 5 days in waters off Padang and Mentawai, Indonesia. It comprised maritime peace keeping and HA/DR operations and exercise series such a
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded BAE Systems a £15.5 (approx. $21.9) million contract for delivery of Archerfish mine neutralizers, for U.S. Navy’s minesweeping operations. Archerfish is a remotely-controlled underwater vehicle equipped with an explosive warhead to destroy sea mines. Accor
A United States Navy destroyer sailing in the Baltic Sea experienced several close interactions by Russian aircraft April 11 and 12. USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) encountered multiple, aggressive flight maneuvers by Russian aircraft that were performed within close proximity of the ship. According to the
The U.S. Navy informed that Navy and Coast Guard assets on April 12 ended the search for the missing USS Carter Hall sailor. The Sailor was reported missing April 9 while the ship was conducting routine training operations in support of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Composite Trainin
Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen has joined the U.S. Navy’s USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) aircraft carrier strike group during their final preparations for deployment. Nansen is participating in a composite training unit exercise with Ike’s strike group to foster integration with
