Defense Strategies
NATO ACO Updates on Weekly Piracy Related Activities
During the reporting period of 09 – 16 January 2013 there were no piracy related incidents in the High Risk Area (HRA). The last of the hostages from the MV Orna have been released. The ship was pirated in Dec 2010 and freed in Oct 2012. However, a number of crew members had been kept […]
Polish Navy Takes Command Over Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One
On Thursday, January 17th, the Polish Navy assumed command over Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One. ORP ‘Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki’ became the flagship of the Group and Cdr Piotr Sikora (Polish Navy) was appointed as the Commander of the SNMCMG1. The official Change of Command Ceremony
UK, Australia Forge Defence Ties
The UK and Australia will strengthen their long-standing relationship today with a new defence treaty to provide a framework for the many strands of co-operation between the two countries. The treaty, to be signed in Perth today, Friday 18 January, with the Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith,
Rear Admiral Tarrant Assumes EUNAVFOR Operational Command
On Wednesday 16 January 2013 Rear Admiral Duncan Potts handed over operational command of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) to Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant. Rear Admiral Potts has commanded EU NAVFOR, the European Union’s counter piracy mission off Somalia, since August 2011. This period has wi
UK: RFA’s Wave Knight Sets Sail for Counter Narcotics, Disaster Relief Patrol
A support ship to the Royal Navy has set sail for the West Coast of North America on a counter narcotics and disaster relief patrol for the next six months. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Wave Knight left Portland to take up the task of the UK’s Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North), a year round commit
UK: HMS Somerset Leaves Devonport Royal Dockyard for Sea Trials
Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset has left Devonport Royal Dockyard for sea trials with significantly increased sustainability and fighting capability, following a successful nine-month docking period undertaken by Babcock; the first major maintenance period conducted under the full implementation of the
French Frigate Surcouf Rescues Ten Sailors
Early yesterday morning EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) warship FS Surcouf came to the rescue of ten mariners at sea 30 miles off the Somali Coast, after their boat, known as a dhow, started to sink into the deep ocean. The master of the Indian flagged dhow had sent out a distress call after the [&hellip
Somalia: EU NAVFOR Commanders Work Together to Fight Piracy
In the morning of 11th January 2013, the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes held a meeting on board his flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez with the Commander of the Combined Maritime counter-piracy task force, Commodore Muhammad Hisham SI (Pakistan Navy).
Russian Navy to Receive over Hundred Surface Ships, Submarines
Russian Navy is going to receive over a hundred new surface ships and submarines of different classes in the upcoming years, said the President of Russia Vladimir Putin according to Portnews.ru. “I want to emphasize again that the development of strong and effective Navy is one of Russia’s key prior
Servicemen from 815 Naval Air Squadron to Get Medals for Their Part in NATO-Led Libya Operation
The 4 servicemen from 815 Naval Air Squadron are among 1,500 Royal Navy personnel to receive medals for their part in the NATO-led Libya operation. The aircrew and engineers, based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, were presented with NATO Operation Unified Protector medals for their participati
French Frigate Surcouf, NATO Warship USS Halyburton Apprehend Twelve Suspect Pirates
In the evening of 5th January, a merchant vessel sailing 260 miles off the Somali Coast, made a distress call, reporting that she was coming under attack by six men in a fast moving boat, armed with rocket propelled grenades. Thankfully, having employed avoidance tactics, the merchant vessel was abl
UK: Babcock International Group PLC Announces Acquisition of LGE Process
Babcock International Group PLC (Babcock), the UK’s leading engineering support services company, announces that it has acquired LGE Process (LGE) from The Weir Group PLC for an enterprise value of £23 million. LGE will be combined with Babcock’s Design Services (DS) business unit, within the Marine
Force Commander of EUNAVFOR Meets Djiboutian Chief Of Navy and Chief Of Coast Guard
During the morning of the 26 of December, after more than two weeks at sea on board his flagship, Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes, had a meeting with both the Djiboutian Chief of the Navy and the Chief of the Coast
BNS Louise Marie Apprehends Suspect Pirates at Sea
Just 12 days after EU Naval Force warship BNS Louise Marie apprehended five suspect pirates at sea off the Somali Coast, the Belgium frigate has once again located a suspect skiff – this time with three men on board. The warship, which is operating as part of the European Union’s counter-piracy miss