Survey ship HMS Echo became the first Royal Navy vessel in ‘the gateway of India’ in five years when she sailed into the metropolis that is Mumbai. It allowed a change of some crew (the ship regularly rotates around one third of her sailors to sustain her mission away from the UK) and a chance [&hel
One hundred and two incidents of piracy and armed robbery have been reported for the first quarter of 2012, with dangerously increasing numbers in West African waters, according to figures released today in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) global pira
Navy has expanded rating designation opportunities for Professional Apprentice Career Track (PACT) Sailors, the non-designated workforce in the fleet, officials said April 20. “Currently the Navy has a healthy complement of PACT Sailors supporting the Fleet – more than 7,800 – and we plan to bring i
Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Norfolk-based guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) are participating in a multinational exercise off the coast of Scotland. Exercise Joint Warrior 12-1, which runs April 1
Dutch EU NAVFOR warship HNLMS VAN AMSTEL completed two escorts of World Food Programme (WFP) chartered merchant vessels Mary Ann Hudson and Golden Bridge, on a tour between 14 and 17 April from Berbera to Bosaso and back. Both escorts in this high risk area were carried out smoothly and without any
Pacific Fleet (PF) task force comprising Guards missile cruiser Varyag, destroyers Marshal Shaposhnikov, Admiral Vinogradov, and salvage tug SB-522 left bases setting a course for the Yellow Sea. There it will meet destroyer Admiral Tributs, tanker Pechenga, and seagoing tug MB-37 heading from the G
The future USS Somerset (LPD 25) launched April 14 from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Avondale Shipyard, marking a key milestone in the ship’s construction process. LPD 25 is the ninth ship of the San Antonio class, and is named in honor of the courage of the passengers of United Airlines Fli
Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has joined forces with French maritime security consultants Securymind to provide an auditing and verification service for companies providing armed guards to protect ships against piracy. Security companies offering services to shipping wi
Russian destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov of Udaloy class together with a Northern Fleet’s task force is scheduled to arrive in the Gulf of Aden in the beginning of May with a mission of contributing international activities on anti-piracy off the Somali coast, Ria Novosti informed. The destroyer will
Los Angeles fast-attack submarine USS Helena (SSN 725) returned to Naval Station Norfolk from a regularly scheduled deployment April 10. “Congratulations to the warfighters of Helena for their super performance on deployment,” said Vice Adm. John Richardson, commander, Submarine Forces. “I’m proud o
USS San Diego (LPD 22) arrived in her homeport and namesake city to the cheers of family and friends April 6. During her maiden voyage from Mississippi to San Diego, the ship stopped in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Cartagena, Colombia; and transited the Panama Canal. “I am proud of my crew – they sailed th
The attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN 21) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap April 3, after successful sea trials, capping a major maintenance period which lasted more than two years. “Seawolf has worked hard to return to the fleet, and we are glad to be back at the tip of the spear,” sai
Navy personnel are busy preparing to teach the next generation of Sailors how to work with and fly the newest military aircraft, the F-35C Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter, as Strike Fighter Squadron 101 (VFA-101) readies for its stand-up ceremony on Eglin Air Force Base May 1. The F-35 is a singl
Deployed since 15 March to take part in the fight against piracy, a Falcon 50M from the French Navy has left the operation and been relieved by a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2. It will operate from Djibouti as is also the case since 26 March for the detection and air control aircraft Awacs E
