Portsmouth-based Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ledbury sails on Tuesday (May 7) for a four-month NATO mission in the Mediterranean. She will be working as part of a permanent multinational maritime force in the area known as Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2). The group works througho
Divers from minehunter HMS Middleton swapped England’s south coast for the warm waters of Gibraltar for a week of high-tempo training. The five-strong team made full use of the facilities on the Rock, practising search techniques, helping stricken divers, lifting mines from the seabed and carrying o
The Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship, HMS Bulwark, will arrive in North Shields for a week-long visit, during which her ship’s company will cement the already strong relationship with affiliated County Durham. HMS Bulwark is playing a lead role in the forthcoming Battle of Atlantic 70th anniversary comme
Protecting World Food Programme (WFP) shipments to Somalia is a core task for EU Naval Force Somalia; ensuring the safe transportation of humanitarian aid to the Somali people. In 2013, WFP aims to bring humanitarian assistance to an estimated population of 1.56 million in Somalia. Since the beginni
Only 36 hours after taking over the Gulf patrol duties from HMS Monmouth, HMS Dragon seized a unique opportunity to replenish her fuel supplies. Whilst this is not an unusual method of sustaining a unit on Operations it would normally involve just two units side by side at sea. On this occasion howe
A giant exercise off the coast of Scotland which involved more than 30 warships and 65 aircraft from 13 European countries has drawn to a close. Exercise Joint Warrior – a twice yearly event – saw the Royal Marines from 42 Commando return to their core amphibious skills as oppose to the land fightin
EUCAP Nestor, EU Naval Force, and the Seychelles Coast Guard carried out a joint counter-piracy exercise in the Seychelles on 26 April. The exercise involved a mock interception of a suspected pirate skiff in Seychelles waters by the combined efforts of EU NAVFOR and the Seychelles Coast Guard. The
On 24 April the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, Commodore Jorge Novo Palma, visited ESPS Rayo. It was the first time to personally meet Rayo’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Rafael Hernandez Rodriguez, and his crew. During the short visit Rayo’
OceanWorks International announces the successful delivery of a major system upgrade for the first of the Italian Navy’s three Atmospheric Diving Systems (ADS). After its previous refurbishment in 1999, the first Italian HARDSUIT™ was returned to OceanWorks International for the latest configuration
Plymouth-based warship HMS Monmouth is on her way home after handing over her Gulf Patrol duties to HMS Dragon in typical naval fashion. The two Welsh-affiliated warships, Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth and Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon, met up in the warm waters of the Gulf of Aden to conduct a formal
On Saturday 6 April Djiboutian Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed graciously awarded Lieutenant Commander Luc de Saint Sernin (French Navy) the rank and dignity of Knight of the National Order of 27th of June for his outstanding service and assistance given to the Djiboutian Authorities during
Gardline has worked closely with naval architects MMD and ship builder Strategic Marine – who will build the vessel – all three companies being located in the Perth area of Western Australia. Brief Specifications: LOA 40m, breadth 11.5m, draft 2.4m, twin main engines and bowthruster, accommodation f
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) at sea April 20. Adm. Cecil Haney and several local community leaders from Hawaii, met with John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG) leadership, observed flight operations at sea, an air-power d
Two Whitby residents, one at the start of her career, have met up by chance serving in a ship which is patrolling the world. Cadet Emma Hopps (25) and Captain Steve Donkersley (53) are both serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). ship Diligence which provides repair and maintenance support world
