Almost 200 members of the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force are joining forces with personnel from across the region in a major humanitarian relief exercise in the South Pacific. Exercise Croix du Sud, which is French for “Southern Cross’, is being hosted by France in New Caledonia. The scenario
58 new apprentices had their first day at work at BAE Systems starting careers that will see them designing and building naval ships including the Royal UK Navy’s aircraft carriers and new Offshore Patrol Vessels. BAE Systems opened its doors in Glasgow to the new apprentices who will learn invalu
On 15 and 16 August the Force Commander of EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), Rear Admiral Guido Rando, visited HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën and ESPS Navarra. The Dutch frigate is currently conducting the last patrol of her 4 months deployment in the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta, whilst the Spanish
The Spanish Navy vessel assisted the French yacht “Vilmy02” which was adrift in the Indian Ocean. A German maritime patrol aircraft “Jester” received a distress call from the yacht and alerted the Spanish Navy’s frigate “Navarra”. The frigate then set sail toward the vessel in distress about 200 n
A UK Navy-led team from Portsmouth are heading back to the UK after leading a multinational force of warships in the Gulf which achieved seven significant heroin and hashish seizures. Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) is in charge of maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean and aims to det
On Tuesday 12 August, whilst conducting counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, the EU Naval Force flagship and Italian Navy destroyer, ITS Andrea Doria, gave assistance to a stricken yacht. The yacht’s two French crewmembers had put out a mayday signal after they suffered engine failure. The
Spanish Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Relámpago’ has returned from EU Naval Force’s Operation Atalanta to its naval base in Las Palmas, Spain. The vessel recently completed the six-month anti-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean. Since leaving its base on 23 February and joining the operation on
On 11 of August 2014 the Combat Support Ship FGS Berlin received a visit from the Force Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia Rear Admiral Guido Rando. It was the first visit aboard an Operation Atalanta unit other than the flagship since he assumed command on 6 August in Djibouti. T
The new flagship of EU Naval Force ITS Andrea Doria conducted its first friendly approach in the Gulf of Aden. To help strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU Naval Force and local seafarers, as well as obtain first hand information about possible piracy incidents in the area, EU
Spanish Navy’s patrol boat ‘Relámpago’ has payed a visit to the city of Tarragona during its return voyage from Operation Atalanta. The vessel, which is currently headed back to its base in Las Palmas, docked in the port of Tarragona on August 6. ‘Relámpago’ deployed from its home base on 23 Februar
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
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
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