NATO Standing Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) has wrapped up two weeks of participating in the Italian Navy hosted exercise ITA-MINEX 14. The aim of the exercise was to secure access to commercial ports through effective use of minesweepers and the use of mine hunting capabilities in an
For the first time in history a member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has actively participated in the Eternal Flame Ceremony, which is conducted every evening beneath the world-renowned Arc De Triomphe in Paris. Petty Officer Don Blackley is in France as part of a small contingent of Australi
At the end of May the EU Naval Force flagship, FGS Brandenburg, made a port visit to the island of Mayotte. Uniquely, Mayotte is the only part of the European Union located inside Operation ATALANTA’s area of operations. Mayotte, which is located in the south west corner of the Indian Ocean, becam
Royal Oman Navy Receives New Warship BAE Systems yesterday handed over the third of three new warships to the Royal Navy of Oman. Spanish Ambassador to UK Visits EU Navfor Operational HQ The Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Federico Trillo-Figueroa Martínez Conde, yesterda
The UK Royal Navy has seized an £8.5m haul of heroin after a raid on a suspect vessel in the northern Arabian Sea. Nearly 60 kilograms of the drug was seized by sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Somerset, the Plymouth-based Type 23 Frigate, who intercepted the fishing boat in Royal Navy fast boat
The Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Federico Trillo-Figueroa Martínez Conde, yesterday visited the Operational Headquarters of EU Naval Force at Northwood Base, North London. He was met by the Deputy Operational Commander of Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauz
The oceanic patrol vessel (BAM in its Spanish initials) ‘Relámpago’, currently participating in the European-led counter-piracy operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean, has provided medical assistance to a ‘dhow’-type fishing boat off the coast of Somalia. The ‘Relámpago’ carried out a friendly a
A considerable load has been put on France due to its intention to continue with the construction and sale of Mistral-class ships to Russia. France said that the delivery of two warships to the Russian Navy will not be affected by the current EU sanctions imposed on Russia amid the Ukrainian crisi
On Monday 19 May 2014, Dutch frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provenciën joined EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. As the ship sailed towards the Gulf of Aden the crew maintained a high level of operational readiness. They conducted a hostage release exercise with a Dutch merchant vessel
The Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia (CGPCS) will hold its Sixteenth Plenary Session at the UN Headquarters in New York on 14 May 2014, under the Chairmanship of the European Union. The meeting will focus on three major policy areas: (i) capacity building in the region off the coas
After three months of contributing in the fight against piracy with the EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta, the Hellenic warship HS Psara heads home to Greece. It was the second time HS Psara has participated in the Counter-Piracy Operation Atalanta as she previously joined the EU Naval For
During the recent port visit of the EU Naval Force Flagship FGS Brandenburg to Dar Es Salaam joint training was delivered by EUCAP Nestor and EU Naval Force to 31 Tanzanian professionals dealing with maritime safety and security. Personnel from the Tanzanian Police and Navy were trained in two sub
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has signed a USD 30.8 million contract with Arizona-based Raytheon Missile Systems. Under the deal, the contractor will provide MK 698 test sets with Evolved Seasparrow Missile and Standard Missile test capability, upgrade kits, installation kits, repair tool kits,
FGS Brandenburg, the Flagship of EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta has conducted a port visit to the port of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. The visit coincided with the worldwide Europe Day Celebrations celebrated on the anniversary of the Schuman declaration in 1950. Several events
