Funding
A&P Group, Thales Australia Sign Agreement to Provide Support Services to HMAS Choules
UK-based A&P Group and Thales Australia have signed an agreement to provide through life support services to HMAS CHOULES – the Royal Australian Navy’s new Bay Class Landing Ship Dock. A&P Group has an existing support contract with the Defence Materiel Organisation for the interim support of the ve
Spanish Chief of Defense Visits EU Navfor Flagship in Djibouti
On 27 January 2012, the Spanish Chief of Defense, Admiral Fernando García Sánchez, visited the EU NAVFOR Flagship, ESPS PATIÑO alongside in Djibouti, accompanied by the Spanish Chief of the Navy, Admiral Manuel Rebollo, Chief of the Air Force, General Jose Jimenez Ruiz, Commander of the Joint Comman
EU Special Representative to Horn of Africa, Mr. Alexander Rondos visits EU NAVFOR
On 23rd January 2012, EU NAVFOR Operation Commander Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts welcomed Mr. Alexander Rondos, the recently appointed EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa to the Operation Headquarters in Northwood for a briefing on the EU NAVFOR mission and discussed future close coopera
UK: Portsmouth-Based Royal Navy Patrol Ship Detains Fishing Vessel for Illegal Nets
A Portsmouth-based Royal Navy patrol ship has caught and detained a fishing vessel for using illegal nets in the North Atlantic. Fishery protection vessel HMS Severn was operating 200 miles (320km) off Land’s End – working on behalf of the Marine Management Organisation – when she inspected the fish
FGS LUEBECK Successfully Releases Indian Dhow
EU NAVFOR warship FGS LUEBECK re-located an Indian registered dhow which had been used as pirate mother-ship involved in the attack on M/V FLINTSTONE early the same day. A Dutch Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) stationed on the Dutch-registered civilian fall-pipe vessel had repelled the attack fol
SPS PATIÑO Assists Iranian Flagged Dhow
On 17 January 2012, following coordination with a Danish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft operating on a search mission for pirate ships, the Spanish Combat Supply Ship SPS PATIÑO, Flagship of Operation ATALANTA, assisted an Iranian flagged dhow which had run out of fuel off the Somali Co
Spanish Judicial Authorities to Prosecute 6 Somali Pirates
It has been confirmed that the Spanish judicial authorities will prosecute the six Somali suspected pirates, who attacked the EU NAVFOR Flagship, the SPS PATINO on 12 January. Following receipt of the evidence package, the Spanish Audiencia Naciona has confirmed it will undertake judicial proceeding
UK: Rear Admiral Canova Hands Over Responsibility to Rear Admiral Rainer Endres
Rear Admiral Christian Canova (French Navy) hands over the responsibility of Deputy Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Operation ATALANTA to Rear Admiral Rainer Endres (German Navy) on 12 January 2012 at the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Northwood, near London. Joinin
Russian Navy to Attend International Naval Exercise RIMPAC 2012
International naval exercise RIMPAC 2012 will take place near Hawaii since June 29 till Aug 7, 2012 comprising naval forces of Asian-Pacific regional countries. Russia will be represented by destroyer Bystry, a rescue tug and a tanker. The exercise will be also attended by warships from Australia, I
The Netherlands to Deploy Military Security Team on Board World Food Programme Ship
From late January onward, the Netherlands will deploy a military security team on board a World Food Programme ship of the United Nations. The team will protect humanitarian aid transports to Somalia against piracy. The Council of Ministers agreed as much on 23 December.The security team will be dep
Ireland: Coast Guard’s Fleet to Get Two New Vessels over Next Two Years
The Coast Guard’s fleet is to get two new vessels over the next two years. Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed that almost €4.4m in funding will also be allocated to the service for the coming year along with an annual grant of €150,000 to the RNLI. Mr Varadkar was speaking during a visit
European Union’s Anti-Piracy Naval Force to Expand Range of ‘Operation Atalanta’ Activities
The European Union’s anti-piracy naval force, Operation Atalanta, is reflecting deeply on extending the range of their activities to the beaches of Somalia, where the piracy developments are deemed to be the most intensive. The EU committee has requested the force’s commander to develop plans for re
SPS Patino Eescorts Convoy of Humanitarian Aid Ships into Somalia
The Spanish auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship, the SPS PATINO, Flagship of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, with the Force Commander, Captain Jorge Manso Revilla embarked, has recently completed a “first” for the mission by escorting a three ship convoy of ships chartered by the World Fo
UK: Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship Largs Bay Receives Firmin Sword of Peace Award
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Largs Bay has won the Firmin Sword of Peace for her role in the Haiti disaster relief effort last year. RFA Largs Bay supplied hundreds of tonnes of rations and equipment to Haiti after a terrible earthquake struck the Caribbean island last year. The ship, which has