Operations
HMS Richmond to Visit London, UK
The Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond will sail up the River Thames and go alongside at West India Dock today for the start of a five-day visit to the capital. HMS Richmond is affiliated to Richmond-upon-Thames – and also to Richmond in North Yorkshire – and the ship’s commanding officer, Comm
USCG, Dutch Navy Carry Out USD 24 Mln Drug Bust
What happens when the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and Royal Netherlands Navy work together? A $24 million drug bust. The multi-agency seizure of 1,517 pounds of cocaine – estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $24 million – all began with a suspicious go-fast vessel. The cre
Cayman Islands: Lancaster Provides Reassurance ahead of Hurricane Season
HMS Lancaster, one of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, has paid a visit to Grand Cayman, the largest island in the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands. It was the second British Territory Lancaster has visited as part of her six-month deployment to the North Atlantic and Caribbean. Th
Babcock Starts HMS Pembroke’s Upkeep Period
Following the recent departure of HMS Penzance from Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard after a successful upkeep period, Babcock has now started work on Sandown class mine hunter HMS Pembroke, in dock at Rosyth for a similar six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)) under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (
UK: HMS Penzance Returns to Sea
HMS Penzance is in the throes of demanding training after completing a six-month revamp in Rosyth. The Faslane-based warship is now Britain’s most up-to-date minehunter following the refit, which prepared her for impending duties with a NATO task group. After six months in refit – four of those out
HMS Echo Visits Malta
Survey ship HMS Echo has spent 12 days in Malta on the first stage of her 18-month mission to the Mediterranean and Middle East. The Devonport-based hydrographic vessel will be updating charts used by seafarers the world over, courtesy of her hi-tech sonar suites. It’s just under a year since the De
VIDEO: Russian Navy’s New Tugboat Ready for Official Trials
The tugboat “RB-404” (Building No 623, project 16609) has successfully passed its mooring and sea trials and it is ready for its official trials. The tugboat, being built by Pella shipyard, will be delivered to the Russian Navy and put into operation within Pacific Fleet of the Navy by the end of th
HMS Defender Gives a Taste of Life at Sea to Crew’s Family and Friends
HMS Defender took families and friends to sea for the first time recently, showing off the ship and giving family members the chance to see what life is like at sea for their serving relations. The day included escorting HMS Edinburgh into harbour for the last time before she was decommissioned, ful
HMS Ramsey, HMS Dragon Team Up to Safeguard Shipping in the Gulf
Sandown-class minehunter HMS Ramsey may only be a sixteenth of the size of HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defence destroyer, but the two vessels are working side by side maintaining maritime security in the region – a task the Royal Navy has been undertaking for over twenty years. Two Sandown and two Hun
NRP Alvares Carbal Visits Port of Pemba
Between 17- 21 of June 2013, the EU Naval Force Portuguese flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral, visited the port of Pemba in Mozambique. Given the strong relations that exist between Mozambique, the European Union and specifically, Portugal, when NRP Alvares Cabral sailed in to the port, her crew were give
UK Navy to Get Its First Unmanned ‘Eye in the Sky’
The Royal Navy is to get its first unmanned ‘eye in the sky’ in a £30m deal to buy the ScanEagle reconnaissance aircraft. The pilotless plane has been used by the US Navy over the past decade and has been trialled by the Royal Navy. Whitehall is investing in the small, unarmed ScanEagle robot planes
VIDEO: HMS Dragon Doubles Her Effectiveness with Extra Pair of Wings
For the first time one of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 destroyers has used two helicopters on front-line operations. HMS Dragon doubled her effectiveness for two months flying not the usual one, but two Lynx helicopters from her flight deck. The destroyer, on her maiden deployment, left Portsmouth i
NATO Shipping Centre Weekly Piracy Update
The number of reported attacks and suspicious activity is down over the last week. This decrease in reports may be due in part, to an improved understanding of the operating environment as ship’s masters and security teams continue to transit the region. Another factor could be the recent meetings b
USS Hue City Arrives in Palma de Mallorca
The guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) arrived in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, June 18. The visit will provide the crew with well-deserved rest and relaxation before continuing on to the ship’s homeport of Mayport, Fla. The Hue City’s crew recently completed their mission to the U.S. 5th Fleet