Accepting the invitation extended by the Sri Lanka Navy, two Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships, Harusame DD-102 and Amagiri DD-154 arrived in the island on December 1, 2014 to attend the Galle Dialogue International Maritime Security Conference. They were welcomed by the Sri Lanka N
The Spanish Navy’s frigate “Reina Sofía” has completed its participation in NATO’s counter-terrorist operation “Active Endeavour” in the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel departed the Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG-2) after participating in the operation for a month and a half and returned to its Ro
Maritime professionals from North Africa, Europe and the U.S. started another round of planning for Phoenix Express 2015 at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center in Souda Bay, Greece, Dec. 2. The four-day planning event, the second of three before exercise execution in spring 20
One of Australian Navy’s most comprehensive implementation programs aimed at improving ships’ seaworthiness and fleet sustainability and preparedness has been completed. The Rizzo Reform Program, a joint Navy and Defence Materiel Organisation initiative, was established in response to the Plan to Re
The Republic of Korea’s Director General for International Policy, the Honorable Jeong Kyu Lee, led a delegation of officials visiting NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) to meet with MARCOM Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio and discuss issues of shared importance and opportunities for coo
Three ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) arrived in Piraeus Nov. 26, for a scheduled port visit during the Group’s deployment to the Mediterranean to enhance maritime security and readiness, and in support of NATO’s counter-terrorism Operation Active Endeavour (OAE). During t
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has confirmed that two Trafalgar Class submarines will move from Devonport to Clyde. Two Trafalgar Class submarines will move from Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport to Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde in another step towards HMNB Clyde becoming the Royal Navy’s submar
The NATO counter-piracy flagship of Task Force 508 (CTF 508) HDMS ESBERN SNARE and the Royal Navy of Oman corvette RNOV AL-RASIKH on November 24th conducted a naval exercise in the Arabian Sea off Salalah to improve interoperability and strengthen relations between the forces. The exercise focused m
On November 26th, 2014, NATO and Japanese maritime forces continued to strengthen relations and enhance interoperability by conducting a combined exercise in the Gulf of Aden. It was a follow-on to the first-ever exercise between the two counter-piracy forces that took place two months ago. Like the
The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Major General Martin Smith MBE, visited the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr Koji Sekimizu, at the IMO headquarters in London on Wednesday 26 November. Meeting to discuss the current situation off the Horn of Africa
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Fort Austin has spent the last few weeks in company with HMS Bulwark as part of the Cougar 14 Task Group, sailing from the United Kingdom into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal and Red Sea and up into the Gulf. The Ship’s Company has been busy throughout, keeping th
East African nations have a significant challenge ahead. The past few years have seen an encouraging decline in the volume of maritime piracy incidents that once dominated headlines with tales of hostage taking and freight ship hijacking, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and further south into the S
During the last week EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Navarra, invited local Somali leaders on board in order to help build relations between the EU Naval Force and the Somali people. After being welcomed on board, the Somalis were given an insight into the EU’s Operation Atalanta, that is helping to ma
Capt. Timothy R. Trampenau transferred leadership of the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) to Capt. Brian K. Sorenson during a change of command ceremony held aboard the ship in Norfolk, Nov. 25. Rear Adm. DeWolfe H. Miller III, commander, Carrier Strike Group Two, presided over the ceremony.