The Change of Command Ceremony (CoC) for the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG 2) took place in Erdek Naval Base, Turkey, with command of SNMCMG2 passing from Captain Giovanni Piegaja (Italian Navy) to Captain Ramazan Kesgin (Turkish Navy). The MEKO-class Turkish Navy frigate TCG
Operation Atalanta warship, ITS Libeccio, carried out counter-piracy training with the Royal Omani Navy during a port visit to Salalah. As part of the training, the Italian marines gave a demonstration on how to search a suspect vessel, including the bridge and cargo areas. On completion of the trai
Portsmouth-based HMS Quorn returned home to Portsmouth on July 2nd, after nearly three months deployed on mine-clearance operations in the Baltic Sea. The Hunt class minehunter has been a part of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1); a taskforce of seven NATO ships assigned to the
The Spanish Navy minehunter ‘Tajo’ rescued the crewman of a sailboat who was about to sink in rough weather in the Ionian Sea between Italy and the Greek coast. The minehunter received a distress call from a 52-year old Israeli sailor, the only crewman of a sailboat, informing that he was about to s
The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) departed the Black Sea on July 1, 2015, after a series of engagements that promoted peace and stability in the region. Laboon’s presence in the Black Sea reaffirmed U.S. commitment toward the region and increased joint operational
More than 160 NATO and partner nation military and civilian leaders yesterday gathered in London for the two day NATO Maritime Commanders’ Meeting (MARCOMET) to discuss current and future maritime security challenges. The theme for SEA SENSE 2015 is NATO’s Future Maritime Posture – Readiness and Res
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) departed Karlskrona, Sweden, after a three-day scheduled port visit, July 01, 2015. Jason Dunham’s presence in Karlskrona reaffirmed to NATO allies that the U.S. Navy shares a commitment to strengthen ties while working towa
The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland, for a routine port visit, July 1. While in port, Sailors and Marines will have the chance to visit the various cultural sites, shop and enjoy local hospitality. This port visit to Reykjavik is the first since
Spanish Navy’s patrol vessel ‘Arnomendi’ has just returned to her home port in Cartagena after deploying in the Mediterranean Sea monitoring the International Bluefin Tuna Campaign as part of the 2015 Fisheries Surveillance Plan. The ‘Arnomendi’ carried out maritime surveillance and inspection tasks
A small fleet of Royal Navy P2000 ships has just completed phase one of their summer deployment to the Baltic. The four vessels – Her Majesty’s Ships Biter, Explorer, Pursuer and Trumpeter – left Portsmouth in mid June and travelled north on their annual deployment carrying up to 10 students each fr
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) arrived in Karlskrona, Sweden, for a scheduled port visit June 28, 2015. Jason Dunham’s presence in Sweden reaffirms to NATO allies that the U.S. Navy shares a commitment to strengthen ties while working toward mutual goals
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) is participating in Exercise CONTEX/PHIBEX15 (CTX/PHI 15), a Portuguese Navy-led joint, multinational maritime exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability. CONTEX/PHIBEX15, which runs through the end of the week, involves the training of naval
Exercise DYNAMIC MOVE (DME15), a two week long naval mine counter-measures exercise, recently began in Belgium-Netherlands (BE-NL) Naval Mine Warfare School EGUERMIN (NATO Naval Mine Warfare Centre Of Excellence / NMW COE). The annual NATO exercise, designed to test naval mine counter-measures (MCM)
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Brad Williamson relinquished command of Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) to German Navy Rear Admiral Jörg Klein yesterday during a brief ceremony conducted by NATO Allied Maritime Command’s Deputy Commander, Vice Admiral Bruno Paulmier, in Kiel Harbour where the former
