The Royal Netherlands’ Navy Holland-class offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Zeeland entering Aruba mid March. Built at the Damen Schelde shipyard in Vlissingen, HNLMS Zeeland is a new addition to Dutch Navy’s fleet, commissioned in August 2013. The vessel is deployed to the Caribbean Sea since February
Crewmembers aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge offloaded yesterday (March 17th) approximately 1,500 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $23 million, in St. Petersburg, Fla. On March 12, during a patrol in the western Caribbean, crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa de
The U.S. Navy’s first joint, high-speed vessel, USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), participated with 12 West African and European partner nations in the fourth year of Exercise Saharan Express in the waters off West Africa, March 10-14. Exercise Saharan Express is one of four African regional exercises, cal
Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) are preparing for future operations by learning to successfully navigate an aircraft carrier at sea. The Navigation, Seamanship and Ship Handling Trainer (NSST), is a million-dollar simulator capable of simulating p
U.S. Coast Guard and Customs & Border Protection (CBP) worked together to track and interdict a panga boat carrying approximately 6,900 pounds of marijuana with three men onboard approximately 140 miles south of San Diego, Saturday night. A CBP Office of Air and Marine Multi-role Enforcement Aircr
The crew of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) is stepping up their search efforts for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean with round-the-clock coverage. Kidd has been searching now for six days and the additional measures taken during this search miss
A flight deck crash and salvage team from the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) completed refresher training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) on board Naval Air Station Pensacola, March 14. During their week at the training center, team members received ha
Guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), departed Naval Station Norfolk March 14 on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding waters. “It is an honor to command USS Vella Gulf as we set sail to the 6th Fleet area of operations to enhance maritime security,” said Capt. R
Russia Deploys 60 Ships near Ukraine Russia has deployed 60 ships on the East border of Ukraine and in Crimea, Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Ihor Tenykh said on Tuesday, March 11. The Minister also stressed that there is no open aggression, since Russia does not officially recognize the tro
The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG) with embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez Canal March 13, entering U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations. While deployed to the region, Bataan will conduct maritime security operations and participate in theater security cooperat
Though drug interdiction looms large among U.S. Southern Command’s responsibilities, it isn’t the only national security role filled by the command, the Southcom commander of the US Navy told media representatives at the Pentagon. Engagement with the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean an
A dozen more F-16s and 300 personnel based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, will augment the U.S. aviation detachment at Lask Air Base, Poland, a Pentagon spokesman announced yesterday. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced last week that the United States would augment the aviation detachment in
The crew of the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) wrapped up a five-day port visit March 10 to New Orleans, the first ship in five years to make a visit there during Mardi Gras. While in port, the crew participated in a number of events, including marching in both the
Cmdr. Cory Blaser, commanding officer of USS Nicholas (FFG 47), decommissioned the ship during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk March 10; 30 years ago to the date in which it was placed into commission in 1984. Nicholas’ commissioning commanding officer, retired Vice Adm. James F. Amerualt, was
