On 7 December 2012, in Djibouti, Rear Admiral Antonio Natale, assumed command of Operation Ocean Shield, NATO’s counter piracy mission from Cdre Ben Bekkering (Royal Netherlands Navy) who has completed a successful 6-month deployment in the region. After a short port visit, the flagship will commenc
Portsmouth mine warfare experts have now taken over command from their Faslane counterparts in charge of the Royal Navy’s key mine warfare force in the Gulf. After six months in the hot seat, the battle staff from the Faslane-based 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM1) have handed over command of
There’s a change of hands in the Indian Ocean as HMS Sutherland has been replaced by her sister Northumberland – as Britain’s constant effort to choke pirates, smugglers and other criminal activity continues. The Fighting Clan is homeward bound for Devonport in time for Christmas after five months e
The chief of naval operations (CNO) visited Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain to view operations within the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR), speak with members of the NSA Bahrain community and to visit ships, Nov. 21. During his visit, Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert stressed the importance of m
His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander Kingdom of Bahrain visited HMS Atherstone in Bahrain on 20 Nov 2012. He was accompanied by Commodore Simon Ancona Royal Navy, Commander United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander. During his visit His Ro
Plymouth-based Royal Navy warship HMS Monmouth is ready to take over the Royal Navy’s deployment to the Gulf during the winter and spring to maintain the continuous British presence. The Type 23 frigate and crew of 215 left Plymouth earlier this summer and will be policing busy shipping lanes crucia
HMS Diamond has hosted a visit from the Royal Navy’s Fleet Commander, Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC. The Admiral, who is responsible for providing ships, submarines, aircraft and Royal Marine units ready in all respects for any operations that the UK Government requires, was joined by the Chi
Navies from six continents and more than 30 nations kick off the most widely attended international exercise ever held in the region, Sept. 16. International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) 12 is the first of what is intended to be a recurring partnership event. “This exercise is about mines
Dozens of countries are kicking off a large-scale naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz on Iran’s doorstep. The place was obviously selected… (rusnavy) [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, September 18, 2012; Image: Flot
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) today has announced the introduction of two new Admiralty Maritime Security Charts to cover The Mediterranean (Q6111) and The Persian Gulf (Q6110). The two new paper charts, together with a new online update service, provide a simple, single point of ref
Guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams transferred 10 Iranian mariners rescued from a burning dhow Aug. 8 to an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman Aug. 10. Members of Williams’ visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team transferred the mariners from the destroyer to an Iranian-flagged dhow
The surge in Somali pirate attacks has been wiped out completely based on the figures for this month, which has been the first full month without pirate attacks since 2007, The Telegraph writes. Based on the data released by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the last attempted boarding and fi
IF YOU don’t recognise the ancient ramparts – or the flag for that matter – it’s because no Royal Navy sailor has seen this historic fortress up close in decades. This is the Assaraya Alhamra (the Red Castle), bastion of Tripoli for more than half a millennium, as seen from the bridge of HMS Echo [&
Calmer waters seem to be on the horizon as the threat from Somali pirates is withering, NATO’s counter-piracy commander said, warning that the international forces shouldn’t lower their guard before the threat is completely removed. Speaking in figures, in the first half of 2012 the number of Somali
