On Saturday 30 August, EU Naval Force warship BNS Leopold I conducted their first friendly approach with two Yemeni fishing vessels. Having sighted the vessels at sea with approximately 15 men, women and children on board, the warship’s Boarding Party was dispatched to investigate the situation. O
After leaving her home port of Zeebrugge on Sunday 10 August, Belgian Navy warship BNS LEOPOLD I has arrived in the Gulf of Aden to commence counter-piracy operations with the EU Naval Force. This is the fourth time that this multi-purpose frigate, with 157 men and 13 women on board, has participa
On Thursday 28 August EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, and Combined Maritime Force frigate, HMAS Toowoomba, met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. As both warships were in close proximity to each other, crewmembers from both warships took the opportunity to ‘cross-deck’ to the other to meet sai
The KAKADU 2014 fleet has sailed from Darwin to conduct major maritime warfare serials in the North Australian Exercise Area including gunnery, air defence, flying operations and more. The eight-strong fleet of warships includes the Royal Australian Navy’s HMA Ships Sydney, Stuart, Arunta and Newc
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Annapolis, Maryland, is being awarded a $27,6 million modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-type contract to exercise an option for the production of proof of manufacturing/first articles and functional item replacement level c
General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, California, is being awarded a $139,9 million modification to previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract for USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) fiscal 2014 extended dry-dock phased maintenance availability. An extended dry-dock phased ma
EU Naval Force Warship FGS Berlin conducts three Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) activities during a recent port visit to the Seychelles in support of EUCAP Nestor. LMCB are conducted by the European Union to build the capacity of security forces of regional partners in the fight against p
The crew of Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) sailed alongside other navies during Sail Raja Ampat Aug. 22-23. Sail Raja Ampat is part of a series of international maritime events hosted by the government of Indonesia in West Papua, Indonesia. Crew members welcomed Ind
Over 1,200 military personnel from the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions have completed collaborative, tactical warfare planning during the first week of the Royal Australian Navy’s largest maritime exercise, KAKADU 2014. From 25 – 29 August 2014, the Harbour Phase of KAKADU 2014 saw regional
On Thursday, 28 August, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant handed over command of the European Union’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, to Major General Martin Smith MBE. Rear Admiral Tarrant has commanded the European Union Naval Force since January 2013 and during this time the number of attack
During the last few days EU Naval Force Warship ESPS Navarra deployed as part of EU Naval Force, has been conducting counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. The Spanish frigate’s embarked AB 212 helicopter, during a routine flight, visually detected two vessels sailing northwards to the Yemen
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën is on her way home after a successful three months deployment to the EU Naval Force Operation Atalanta, the counter-piracy mission of the European Union. Before joining Operation Atalanta, the ship conducted two-weeks of pre-deployment training on her way to the Suez Cana
Australian Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston announced the United States Navy has executed an Advanced Acquisition Contract for Australia’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Senator Johnston said this key Defence procurement would allow the withdrawal of the ageing AP-3C Orion fleet, and enable Bo
HNLMS Van Speijk, the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) multipurpose frigate, arrived on the African east coast for her participation within the EU Naval Force. However, before entering the area of operations further preparation was necessary: additional specific training for the mission and the integ
