On Wednesday 6 August 2014 Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen (German Navy) handed over Force Command of the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta to Rear Admiral Guido Rando (Italian Navy). Brigadier General Dick Swijgman, who recently assumed the role of Deputy Operation Commander of the EU Naval F
U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrived in Qingdao, China, Aug. 5 to promote maritime cooperation and reinforce a positive navy-to-navy relationship with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N)) North Sea Fleet. “We greatly appreciate the warm welcome our North Sea Fleet counterp
Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is being awarded a $25,6 million modification to a previously awarded contract for the detailed design and construction efforts to support the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) construction. Huntington Ingalls Inc. will complete the detailed design and constr
ITS Francesco Mimbelli continues her engagement in NATO Ocean Shield antipiracy operation in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, within Combined Task Force 508 (CTF 508). Following a long activity at sea, the Italian destroyer’s personnel, during an operational stop at Salalah harbor (Oman), ha
Babcock has successfully trialled a new system for Fleet Time maintenance activities, geared to reducing the burden on ship’s staff (particularly valuable for lean-manned ships) and ensuring optimum safety. The five week trial was undertaken on Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland during her recent
As part of her counter-piracy role within the EU Naval Force, Spanish frigate ESPS Navarra has completed an escort at sea of a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the coast of Somalia. The merchant vessel’s ports of call were Kismayo and Mogadishu, which are both in Somalia. Both cities are us
After seven months, Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá (Spanish Navy) handed over the role of Deputy Operation Commander (DCOM) of the European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, to Brigadier General Dick Swijgman (Royal Netherlands Navy). The handover took place at the Operational Headquar
The UK Ministry of Defence, through the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and in partnership with a number of associations and industry bodies, is making funding available through four initiatives each addressing different areas of maritime autonomy. Autonomy in Maritime Unmanned Vehicles
Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is being awarded a $49,6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for fiscal 2014 advance planning to prepare and make ready for the defueling work on USS George Washington (CVN 73). This effort will provide for advanced planning, ship checks, design, d
On Friday 25 July 2014 the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, took the opportunity to visit warship, ESPS Navarra. The Spanish Navy frigate recently joined the EU Naval Force and was in close vicinity to the EU flagship, FGS Brandenburg, in the Gulf of Aden. The purpose of the vis
DDG 1000 Zumwalt-Class Destroyer Program Continues to Progress The DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer program continues to progress, meeting key program milestones on the path to Initial Operational Capability (IOC). As the prime mission systems integrator for the DDG 1000 ship class, Raytheon provide
A time-honored change of command ceremony was held yesterday, July 31, 2014, for the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Houston (SSN 713) at the submarine piers on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Cmdr. Paul Davis was relieved by Cmdr. Scott McGinnis as commanding officer of USS Houston. D
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departed Souda Bay, Greece, following a scheduled port visit, July 29. Ross was in Souda Bay for three days, while the ship refueled and met incoming personnel. The port visit allowed the crew an opportunity to experience some of the c
Rear Admiral John Newton, Commander of Canadian Maritime Forces Atlantic released the following message on July 31st, 2014: “Today, the Royal Canadian Navy is proud to receive Rear Admiral Brad Williamson and three ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2), as well as two American ships u