Aviation
French FREMM frigate concludes eventful deployment
French Navy’s multi-mission frigate FS Provence recently wrapped up her action-packed five month deployment as she returned to her homeport in Brest, France on April 21, 2016. Commissioned into service in June 2015, the Provence sailed from Brest November 15, 2015 for her first deployment which led
Pakistan Navy starts construction of first MPV
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency held a steel cutting ceremony for the agency’s first 600 ton Maritime Patrol Vessel. The ceremony was held May 2 at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works which will construct the ship. The MPV is a multi mission vessel with a steel hull and an aluminium super structu
Spanish frigate joins counter piracy operation in the Indian Ocean
Spanish Navy frigate Santa María (F-81) set sail from Rota Naval Base to integrate into the EU-led counter-piracy Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean until the end of September. The farewell ceremony was presided over by Commander 41st Escort Squadron, Captain Ramón Godín. Operation Atalanta is a
First steel cut for Turkish LHD ship
Turkey began construction of the nation’s first amphibious assault ship with a steel cutting ceremony on April 30. Based on the Spanish Navy’s landing helicopter dock (LHD) Juan Carlos I and designed by Navantia, the Turkish version of the ship will be named TCG Anadolu and have the pennant number L
US Coast Guard ship returns home with 1,200 kg of cocaine
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.
HMAS Perth ready for Operation MANITOU
HMAS Perth has successfully completed an intense training and assessment phase prior to the ship deploying in support of Operation MANITOU. The period culminated in Perth being declared ‘mission ready’ by Commodore Training, Commodore Michael Rothwell recently. Perth has spent the past few weeks agg
US Navy sailors assist JS Hyuga Crew in Earthquake Relief Efforts
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
UK based Anglo French exercise wraps up
A Tri-Service exercise designed to test the Anglo-French working partnership has completed on April 22nd, after a fortnight of exercising on sea, land and air. Eight warships from the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale took part – Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean, HMS Bulwark, HMS Sutherland, as well as R
US Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Boater
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
Belgian frigate BNS Louise Marie completes two year modernization program
Belgian Navy’s multi-purpose frigate Louise Marie F931 has returned to its homeport in Zeebrugge, Belgium, after undergoing modernization in the Netherlands. The frigate was docked in Den Helder, where she was fitted with new weapons and communications. BNS Louise Marie will now be performing operat
US Navy destroyers on Western Pacific deployment
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
Indonesian-lead exercise Komodo 16 concludes
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
PHOTO: Oman names new support vessels in Australia
Two high speed support vessels (HSSV) constructed by Austal for the Royal Navy of Oman have been officially named during a ceremony held at Austal’s Henderson, Australia shipyard April 15. The first vessel – RNOV Al Mubshir (S11) – is on schedule for delivery in the first half of 2016 while the seco
BAE to provide Archerfish mine neutralizer to US Navy
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