In accordance with the agreed planning in the contract for the construction of a Damen SIGMA Frigate for the Indonesian Navy, the keel laying ceremony took place on 16 April 2014 at the PT PAL (Persero) Shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia. The construction of the 4 modules that are going to be built a
This past weekend, NATO’s counter-piracy flagship, ESPS CRISTOBAL COLON, engaged with the Royal Omani Navy and the European Union Naval Force’s (EUNAVFOR) counter-piracy task force commander (CTF-465) following a port visit to Salalah, Oman. COLON departed Salalah on Saturday 12 April 2014 and con
The Force Commander of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, met with his counterpart from the Counter Piracy Mission Operation Ocean Shield, Rear Admiral Eugenio Diaz Del Rio. Both Admirals met on the NATO Flagship, the Spanish frigate ESPS Cristob
The United States is concerned about reports of increased violence in Ukraine, and continues to call on Russia to de-escalate the situation, Pentagon officials said yesterday (April 15). Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen echoed the U.S. concern during a media availability in
On 11 April the Force Commander of EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, visited the first ship of his task force since he took over command. The Hellenic frigate HS Psara, which has been part of EU Naval Force since February 2014, is participating i
The forward deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) welcomed aboard Romanian President Traian Bsescu while the ship was in port in Constanta, April 14. Bsescu was met by members of the U.S. Embassy and Donald Cook’s Commanding Officer Cmdr. Scott Jones. He was then given a tour of
Royal Navy ships, submarines and aircraft together with NATO partners have completed the first Exercise Joint Warrior for 2014 off the coast of Scotland. The flagship Joint Warrior training exercise has been the most complicated and largest exercise with 33 ships trained, 3 submarines, 48 fixed wi
U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay held a change of command ceremony onboard the installation, April 11. Capt. Michael R. Moore relieved Capt. James F. Gibson Jr. as commanding officer. Rear Adm. John C. “Jack” Scorby, commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, was the guest s
Earlier this month, Captain Yu Byeong-Joo, Commander Republic of Korea Naval Escort Task Group, visited NATO Operation OCEAN SHIELD Task Force Commander (CTF-508), Rear Admiral Eugénio Diaz del Rio, on board his flagship to discuss counter-piracy activities. The Republic of Korea destroyer ROKS KA
“All those involved in the replenishment at sea are required at their station”. When this order is broadcast over loudspeakers on board the German tanker FGS Rhön, the seamanship crew reacts quickly by donning their hard hats and safety gear before making final preparations for what is a highly spec
Since Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen assumed force command of the EU Naval Force on Sunday 6 April, he has been very busy ensuring that his flagship, FGS Brandenburg, and the rest of the EU Naval Force warships and maritime patrol aircraft under his command are fully prepared for the important role
Portsmouth-based minehunter HMS Brocklesby returned home on April 11 after two-and-a-half months deployed away from UK waters. The small but highly capable ship left her home port in late January to some of the most horrific weather the UK has seen in a long time and sailed to meet the UK’s commit
Members of the UK Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Force have taken part in a multi-agency exercise in Cardiff Bay. The RAF search and rescue personnel were put through their paces along with various other emergency services when they were faced with a major incident in a scenario for Exercise Re
The Chief of Navy of the Royal Navy of New Zealand, Rear Admiral Jack Steer, visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on Wednesday, 9 April 2014. Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) General Sir Adrian Bradshaw and SHAPE Chief of Staff (COS) General Werner Freers met w