Last weekend under the banner of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) Task Unit 02 (TU02), HMCS Toronto, ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbon and ROS Regele Ferdinand have completed their 4 days visit to Constanta, Romania. The port visit served to reaffirm the Alliance’s commitment to maritime defen
Maritime professionals from Africa, Europe, and the U.S. began a 3-day conference aimed to enhance collaborative efforts to achieve maritime security in Africa, Sept. 15. The Africa Partnership Station (APS) Annual Planning Conference aims to align individual African nation maritime security goals
Whilst conducting EU counter-piracy patrols in the Horn of Africa, the Belgian EU Naval Force frigate, BNS Leopold I, has conducted friendly approaches on a dhow and several skiffs near the Somali coast. The dhow was initially sighted by BNS Leopold I’s Alouette III helicopter during a reconnaissa
On Monday, 8 September, EU Naval Force Belgian frigate, BNS Leopold I, conducted a replenishment at sea with the German support ship FGS Berlin in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). As the ships sailed close to each other, maintenance equipment was transferred from FGS Berlin
The entire UK Navy Board – the body responsible for running the Royal UK Navy – squeezed into two of the Navy’s smallest vessels for a rare day together at sea. Eight Admirals – including First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas – a Royal Marine Major General, two Commodores and several support
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) transited the Bosphorus Strait departing the Black Sea, Sept. 12, after conducting a series of engagements designed to promote peace and stability in the region. Ross’ presence in the Black Sea served to demonstrate the United Stat
Ships from various countries are underway in formation during Sea Breeze 2014. Sea Breeze is a multinational maritime exercise with naval forces participants from Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Turkey, Latvia, and the U.S., as well as ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group Two, Task Unit 02, conducti
Construction of HMS Prince of Wales, the second of two new aircraft carriers for the UK Royal Navy, has moved forward with the docking of two of the ship’s largest hull sections – Lower Block 02 and Lower Block 03. The movement of the blocks into the dock at Rosyth marks the beginning of […
The Danish Defence Select Committee visited NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) yesterday as part of a broader program of visits to UK-based commands. Discussions at MARCOM focused on maritime operations, including NATO counter-terrorism Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR in the Mediterranean and counte
On Tuesday 4 September the 32nd wing of the Italian Air Force, which operates the remote controlled aircraft known as Predator, completed their first tasking with the EU Naval Force. The Italian Predator team, which is based in Djibouti, carried out a successful 11 hour check test flight and was a
Saturday, in conjunction with a port visit by Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2), Chief of Staff, NATO Allied Maritime Command, Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio met with Vice Admiral Mohamed Laghmari, Inspector of the Royal Moroccan Navy, and his staff to discuss numerous issues of sh
Between 6 – 7 September, the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando took the opportunity to embark HNLMS Van Speijk and BNS Leopold I. Both frigates recently joined the EU Naval Force to conduct EU counter-piracy operations and they will remain in the area of operations off the coast of Soma
Visitors flocked to a flotilla of NATO warships when Cardiff hosted a Meet the Forces day – although those stepping aboard HMS Duncan were confronted by one of the most dangerous aliens in the universe. Six ships – including the Royal Navy’s latest front-line Type 45 destroyer – were berthed in Ca
Prince Charles has visited the Royal UK Navy’s newest warship HMS Duncan in Cardiff as he arrived for the NATO summit reception. As Admiral of the Fleet, Prince Charles wore his Naval uniform and was shown around the state-of-the-art Type-45 destroyer which is the sixth and final of its class. Whi
