Funding
French ships rotate in EU operation Sophia
One French ship was replaced by another in the Mediterranean Sea operation Sophia after FS Commandant Bouan took over from FS Commandant Ducuing on February 6. Both ships are D’Estienne d’Orves-class avisos most commonly used for anti-submarine defence and high sea escort missions. Commandant Ducuin
Royal Navy’s HMS Mersey returns from lengthy deployment
Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Mersey returmed home to Portsmouth on Friday completing a 13-month mission supporting efforts to tackle people trafficking and drug smuggling. The River-class patrol ship left Portsmouth in January 2016, heading for the Caribbean before travelling east to the Mediterranean
Italian frigate hosts Australian defense minister in Adelaide
During her port call in Adelaide, Italian FREMM frigate ITS Carabiniere welcomed the Australian minister for defense Christopher Pyne on board on February 5. Pyne toured the Italian frigate ITS Carabiniere as it visited South Australia on a four-month deployment to the Asia-Pacific to support naval
Persian Gulf exercise Unified Trident wraps up
Navy ships from Australia, Great Britain, France and the U.S. concluded their participation in the multi-national exercise Unified Trident that was held in the Persian Gulf. More than 15 ships, plus numerous aircraft from the four navies completed many different evolutions from January 31 to Februar
ESPS Relampago crew train with Seychellois forces
The crew of Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel ESPS Relampago took part in a range of maritime training exercises with the Seychelles Maritime Police, Coastguard and Air force during their visit to the Seychelles. The first day of training focused on briefings about search and rescue (SAR) proced
EU starts second phase of Libyan Navy and Coast Guard maritime training
Maritime law and operations training that EU and Libyan Navy and Coast Guard started in October 2016 entered the second phase on January 30, EUNAVFOR announced. Delivered by EUNAVFOR’s Mediterranean Sea mission called operation called Sophia, the training will continue in a maritime training centre
Russian Kilo-class submarine rejoins navy after 14 years of repairs
After spending 14 years in the shipyard for repairs and modernization, Russian Navy’s Project 877 B-187 diesel-electric submarine Komsomolsk-on-Amur rejoined the Russian Pacific Fleet on January 27. The upgraded Kilo-class submarine returned from its builder’s sea trials in December 2016, and has no
Italian FREMM frigate arrives in Western Australia
Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Carabiniere arrived in Western Australia on Wednesday with Italian defense industry representatives aboard. Carabiniere docked in Fremantle where Fincantieri representatives will meet with Australian naval shipbuilding companies and the local supply chain, who are vy
Australian, French educational houses sign Future Submarine MoU
Australia’s Flinders University signed an academic and research cooperation agreement with four French graduate schools of engineering to work on Australia’s Future Submarine program. The agreement between Flinders and a consortium comprised of ENSTA ParisTech, École Centrale de Nantes, CentraleSupé
UK Maritime Forces commander highlights Royal Navy operations of 2016
Refuting negative press reports, UK’s Maritime Forces commander Rear Admiral Alex Burton pointed to the Royal Navy’s numerous operations in 2016 during a speech he delivered to the All Parties Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Armed Forces at the Palace of Westminster on January 16 Below is a trans
Spanish warship hosts EU ambassadors during port call in Tanzania
The commander of Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel ESPS Relampago welcomed EU member state ambassadors aboard during a port call in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Ambassadors from Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands were welcomed by Lieutenant Commander Francisco Garcia Flores on Januar
German tanker Spessart joins NATO’s SNMG1
German Navy’s Rhön-class tanker FGS Spessart will join NATO’s standing maritime group 1 (SNMG1) this month. The 130-meter ship is scheduled to depart its homeport in the naval base Kiel on January 11. The ship is expected to join other SNMG1 units on January 13 in Oslo, Norway. A change of flagship
Spanish frigate deploys to Australia for AWD support
Spanish Navy’s Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Cristóbal Colón is scheduled to embark on a long-term deployment to Australia on January 9. Under an agreement between the two navies, the Aegis-equipped frigate will spend 120 days in Australia where it will help train future Australian Hobart-class dest
2017 is the year of the navy, British MoD says
The British Ministry of Defence said that 2017 is set to be the year of the Royal Navy as it prepares to welcome new ships to the fleet. “We are investing billions in growing the Royal Navy for the first time in a generation with new aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, patrol vessels and aircra