Following a busy three months at sea, the company of HMS Atherstone are preparing for some down time. For the past three months the members of Mine Countermeasures 2nd Squadron’s Crew 1 – known as ‘The Fighting Aces’ – have been deployed in the Gulf as part of the UK’s enduring presence in the regio
Divers from HMS Quorn are preparing for the biggest minehunting exercise of the year in the Middle East. They will join counterparts from 20 or so nations in May at the second annual IMCMEX, which aims to show how the world’s navies can keep the sea lanes open – and deal with the mine threat. [&hell
Currently it is the 12th rotation of the P3C Orion Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRS) and its support group, serving since 20 February with the EU Naval Force. German navy aircraft are contributing to maritime security around the Horn of Africa based in Djibouti for almost ten years.
Modus Seabed Intervention continues to demonstrate its commitment to be at the forefront of subsea technologies with the creation of a new Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) division. The North East England-based company has begun an investment programme into a planned fleet of AUV units; utilised
After being alerted to the situation by Milford Haven Coastguard, the duty RAF search and rescue (SAR) helicopter from A Flight, 22 Squadron, arrived on the scene to find French fishing vessel, ‘Alf’, being tossed around in the water like a piece of driftwood. Weather conditions were so atrocious th
The crew of hunter-killer submarine HMS Trenchant have passed the nine-month barrier on their marathon tour of duty in the Indian Ocean. The Plymouth-based boat has clocked up 277 days on patrol since leaving Devon last year, continually maintaining the UK’s submarine presence east of Suez. She sail
The Spanish Oceanic Patrol Vessel ESPS Rayo, as part of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta, has taken advantage of her second port visit in Djibouti to conduct training on 20 and 21 March 2013 with the Djiboutian Navy and Coast Guard. The Boarding Team of ESPS Rayo and Spani
IMO has pledged its support to assist in the implementation of a new Code of Conduct concerning the prevention and repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa, which has been adopted at a Ministerial meeting in Cotonou, Benin. The Code i
A Plymouth based frigate has played a starring role in a maritime security exercise off the coast of West Africa. Whilst on deployment on Atlantic Patrol Task (South) reassurance duties, the Type 23 frigate, HMS Argyll, has successfully completed the multi-national exercise, Saharan Express, off the
Portsmouth based Type 23 frigate – HMS Kent – leaves Portsmouth on Monday (25/3) for a six-month deployment focussing on counter piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. HMS Kent will continue the Royal Navy’s long-term presence East of Suez as she replaces HMS Northumberland currently on station. The
HMS Duncan, the sixth and final of the UK’s sophisticated, new class of Type 45 Destroyers, has been formally handed over to the Royal Navy by shipbuilder BAE Systems, the MOD announced today The 7,500 tonne vessel, armed with the world-leading Sea Viper missile defence system, sailed to her new hom
Some contributing nations support the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta with specialised assets to counter piracy off the Horn of Africa. Estonia supports Operation Atalanta with a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) on board the French frigate FS Courbet. VPDs are ready to emba
As HMS Monmouth hits the five-month mark on her Maritime Security patrol of the Gulf, it is worth taking stock of what is required to keep a Type 23 frigate and her Ship’s company of over 200 sailors and Royal Marines continuously on task and ready for action. Sustainability is the key theme running
On 17 March, during a visit by the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez to Salalah, the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes, met with Omani officials in Salalah. The EU NAVFOR Force Commander met the Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman’s
