Twenty-four Australian Defence Force personnel have arrived in Bougainville onboard United States Navy Ship Mercy for Pacific Partnership 2015. More than 650 military personnel, as well as host nation and non-government organisation civilians will support the mission. Conducted annually, Pacific Par
The seventh of eight Cape Class Patrol Boats, being supplied to Australian Border Force under a $330 million design, build and in-service support contract by Austal, has been delivered. The vessel, Cape Wessel, is named after the most northerly point of Rimbija Island, the northernmost island of the
On Tuesday 30 June the Finnish Ambassador to United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Pekka Huhtaniemi, and the Commander of the Finnish Navy, Rear Admiral Kari Takanen, visited the EU Naval Force Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Northwood, UK. Ambassador Pekka Huhtaniemi and Rear Admiral Kari Takanen wer
Italian Navy placed an order for the construction and equipment of one multipurpose amphibious unit (LHD) with Fincantieri and Finmeccanica. The total value of the contract is over 1.1 billion euros, with Fincantieri’s share amounting to approx. 853 million euros and Finmeccanica’s to about 273 mill
Illegal fishing has been the focus of a combined Australian Defence Force and Indonesian Armed Forces operation, concluding in Darwin last week. The fifth Australian and Indonesian coordinated maritime security patrol commenced in Kupang, Indonesia on 15 June and took place in areas of the Timor and
On June 30th, Governor Rick Scott announced that Bay County was awarded $280,000 through Florida’s Defense Reinvestment and Infrastructure Grant Programs. The funding will be used to support and sustain Naval Support Activity Panama City and Tyndall Air Force Base, with its $2.6 billion in defense e
On Friday 26 June 2015, Operation Atalanta Force Commander, Rear Admiral Alfonso Gómez Fernández de Córdoba, visited Japanese warship JDS Ikazuchi at sea. The EU Naval Force Commander was hosted by the Commander of the Japanese Escort Division 1, Captain Atsushi Nakasuji and the JDS Ikazuchi’s Comma
Three US Navy vessels departed Fremantle Port, Australia, after a five-day visit. USS Preble, USS Green Bay and USS Bonhomme Richard, carrying 4000 sailors and marines arrived in Fremantle on Thursday 25 June. The visit of the US naval contingent was associated with the biennial military training ex
More than 500 U.S. Sailors and embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the USS Ashland (LSD-48) arrived in Bunbury, Australia, June 25. In addition to rest and relaxation, crew members will volunteer at a community service event at the Bunbury Wildlife Park where service
Sri Lanka Navy intercepted 78 illegal immigrants suspected to be bound for Australia in the southern Sri Lankan seas on 26th June 2015. The multiday trawler in which the group were traveling was intercepted by an SLN fast craft on routine patrol off Kirinda. The group consisted of 59 Tamils and 17 S
The Australian Government has awarded an in-service support contract to maintain the Bay-Class Landing Ship Dock, HMAS Choules, over the next two years. The maintenance contract awarded to Atlantic & Peninsula Australia Pty Ltd (A&P Australia) is a fixed-price performance-based commercial arrangemen
The US Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy ship (T-AH 19) arrived in Arawa, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, on June 26 for its second mission stop of Pacific Partnership 2015. While in Arawa, PP15 personnel will work and train side-by-side with the community on civic service eve
LHD Adelaide Begins Sea Trials Australian Navy’s new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) NUSHIP Adelaide left BAE Systems Williamstown on June 17 to begin sea trials. BAE Systems to Prepare HMNB Portsmouth for New Aircraft Carriers BAE Systems has been awarded a £5.5M contract to install a new Vessel Traf
US Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) arrived in Stirling, Australia, June 25 for a port visit as a part of its Western Pacific deployment. For many of the Jacksonville’s crew members this was their first time in Australia. Since departing Sepangar, Malaysia, J
