The first NH90 NFH Step B has been delivered to the Italian Navy. This fully operational naval helicopter will be assigned to the 5th Helicopter Squadron of the Italian Navy at the Sarzana-Luni base. The Italian Navy has ordered 56 NH90s, 46 of which in the NFH variant. “This NH90 Step B will allow
Maritime forces from the United States, 10 East African and two European nations, along with several international organizations, commenced the multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express 2013, Nov. 11. Exercise Cutlass Express 2013, held in several operational areas in waters off East Africa, i
Onboard RFA Lyme Bay, which is part of European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, the Boarding teams from the Fleet Contingency Troop and K Company 43 Commando Royal Marines have taken advantage of the Lynx MK 8 that embarked from RFA Fort Austin to practice fast roping techn
The Lithuanian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), deployed with the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta since August 2013, is tasked with the protection of the World Food Programme (WFP) ship MV Caroline Scan. Embarked on the Caroline scan around the clock, the AVPD en
Just a few weeks after the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, issued another warning about the on-going piracy threat, there have been two more piracy related incidents off the Somali coast. The first incident happened on Tuesday 5 November, when EU Naval Force Germ
The Royal Navy’s offshore patrol vessel, HMS Severn, which is twinned with Newport, will visit her affiliated city from 7th to 10th November. During a busy few days, the ship will bring groups of school children on board for organised tours and conduct outreach events with local organisations over t
An air and maritime exercise involving Australia and its regional security partners starts today in Malaysia. Exercise Bersama Lima 2013 is a Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) activity involving Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand. Commander Australian Contingent,
On Sunday, 3 November, EUNAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Peter Lenselink and members of his staff, visited the Italian warship, ITS Libeccio. After being welcomed by the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Stefano Calvetti, Commodore Lenselink was introduced to the crew and given a tour of the sh
RFA Lyme Bay has carried out the first of six friendly approaches in the Gulf of Aden. It was the first friendly approach carried out by a UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class ship, as part of European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. The ship’s boat team interacted with the lo
On 13h of October the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta Liaison Officer (LNO) for Seychelles and Mauritius, Lieutenant Commander Billy Adams Royal Navy, boarded NATO’s Danish counter piracy maritime patrol aircraft for a reconnaissance mission off the coast of Somalia. In the spi
The recently released Hollywood movie, Captain Phillips, held its Dutch premiere in a very special way. At the same time as the film was being shown in the Tuschinski theatre in Amsterdam, the movie was also being screened on the flight deck of the EU Naval Force flagship, HNLMS Johan de Witt during
During their recent logistical visit to the Seychelles, Spanish Ocean Patrol Vessel (OPV), ESPS Meteoro, held a number of very productive meetings with EUCAP Nestor and the Seychelles Coast Guard. On the 25th of October, ESPS Meteoro was visited by 18 members of the Seychelles Coast Guard, in conduc
The professionalism of ESPS Cantabria ship’s company under the leadership of Commander Jose Luis Nieto Fernandez was formally recognised recently with a Commander Australian Fleet commendations. Rear Admiral Tim Barrett presented the awards on the flight deck of the combat support ship. Reading from
Working alongside the navies of Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, Daring will shortly take part in Exercise Bersama Lima under the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA). The FPDA was established in 1971 and provides for defence co-operation between the five signatories. But before the