The Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset dropped her anchor in Gibraltar on the way to beginning a deployment East of Suez. The deployment comes in the aftermath of HMS Somerset’s £21 million pound refit, which renewed her operational capability and restored her full readiness. Whilst in Gibral
Another busy year is ahead of the Royal Australian Navy’s replenishment oiler HMAS Sirius. Nevertheless, before she sets sail to support this year’s operations, she will have to undergo a scheduled maintenance period in order to be ready to head out to the high seas once again. In 2013, which was
Hetman Sahaydachnyi, the Ukrainian Navy frigate, finished the first patrolling as part of European Naval Force Operation Atalanta from 5 to15th of January. The primary goal of Hetman’s presence was to perform counter-piracy operations, secure civil ships carrying out tasks within the World Food Pr
A new Commanding Officer took the helm of HMAS Coonawarra during a formal handover-takeover ceremony in Darwin in December. As a former Commanding Officer of Fremantle and Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPB), Commander (CMDR) John Navin relieved CMDR Ben Favelle. CMDR Navin said that the main focus
The German Navy ship, FGS Hessen, which is currently part of European Naval Force Operation Atalanta, assisted a Yemeni dhow off the coast of Yemen. The dhow was drifting for five days due to some technical malfunctions. The Japanese Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) alerted FGS Hes
The flagship of the EU Naval Force, FS Siroco, held training with the Tanzanian Navy during her recent visit to the port of Dar Es Salaam. The training included a briefing on boarding operations, Best Management Practices (BMP) and an introduction to the Mercury system used by the counter piracy for
EU Navfor flagship, FS Siroco, on January 1st 2014, visited the Port of Mayotte, which is located in the Indian Ocean. This port is the only part of the EU located inside the Operation Atalanta’s Area of Operations. FS Siroco is a French warship, which joined the European Union Naval Force Operation
Italian Navy frigate named ITS Libeccio has completed a port visit to Dar Es Saalam in Tanzania as part of EU Naval Force mission. The ship’s crew conducted anti-piracy training with the Tanzanian Navy on Tuesday 24th December. As part of the visit, ITS Libeccio’s company visited a local orphanage l
Austal launched the Cape Class Patrol Boat (CCBP), Cape Byron, at its facility in Henderson, Australia today (January 7th, 2014). The ship was launched 4 weeks ahead of schedule, exactly 1 year after launching of the first boat of the class, Cape St George. The ship has been lowered into the water,
The Ukrainian Navy ship, Hetman Sahaidachnyi, has returned to the port of Djibouti having completed its sixth patrolling and presence in the Ocean Shield operation. The ship ensured navigation security in the Gulf of Aden from October 12, 2013 through January 2, 2014. Hetman Sahaidachnyi spent 47 da
Australian Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, corrected media reporting in News Corp newspapers on Tuesday, 31 December 2013, according to which Australia’s navy patrol boats are “literally cracking up under the pressure of intercepting the surge in asylum-seeker vessels.” The article also specula
Spanish warship, ESPS Tornado, integrated with the EU Naval Force on counter-piracy operation, dropped anchor in the port of Djibouti on 26 December 2013 to change helicopters, since its Augusta Bell 212 helicopter had become unserviceable and beyond repair. As a result, the Spanish Navy arranged fo
Spanish fleet replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’ has returned to her home port in Ferrol, Spain after spending a year deployed to Australia where she integrated with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The ship has supplied more than 12,000 tons of fuel and sailed 43,200 miles during 215 days at sea. Since
Four Typhoon stabilised weapons systems have been installed onboard NUSHIP Canberra, a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) under construction for the Royal Australian Navy. The advanced weapons systems, comprising a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun and a coaxially mounted M240 7.62mm machine gun, will be t
