Operations
HNLMS De Ruyter Deploys for Counterpiracy Mission
The frigate HNLMS De Ruyter left her home port of Den Helder for counterpiracy operations in the waters around Somalia. For this mission, the EU’s Operation Atalanta, the ship is carrying the new NH-90 helicopter, which will see its first operational deployment. The air defence and command frigate h
USS Makin Island Sailors Start “Biggest Loser” Competition
Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) began a “Biggest Loser” weight-loss and fitness competition Jan. 16, to help promote physical readiness during 2013. The competition, sponsored by the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) division, is based on the popular te
Russia to Construct Large Shipbuilding Yard on Black Sea Coast?
Russian shipbuilding and ship-repair facilities will be constructed on the Black Sea coast, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on January 18 at the conference on the development of Russia’s shipbuilding capability in the Black Sea region. As Dmitry Rogozin noticed, it’s important to immediate
RN Sailor Recognized for Accurate Weather Reports during Libyan Conflict
Leading Seaman Freddie Noakes stepped up into the role normally occupied by a Lieutenant during board HMS Liverpool’s deployment on operations on Libya, when the ship was providing naval gunfire support from the sea into Misrata during the Libyan conflict. He received his Joint Commanders Commendati
HMS Northumberland’s Merlin Tests Flares while Patrolling Indian Ocean
In the middle of her counter-piracy and counter-drugs work, the Devonport-based frigate HMS Northumberland’s Merlin helicopter tested one of the many tricks in her box – her flares. These are installed to decoy incoming heat-seeking missiles – fired either by other aircraft, or ground-based threats
UK: Royal Navy Sailor Gets Medal Following 15 Years in Service
A Royal Navy sailor from Hackney has been presented with his Long Service Good Conduct medal following 15 years in the Service. Alan Murrell, 38, is currently working as part of the Royal Navy’s secure communications team at the command headquarters in Portsmouth. Born in Hackney, where his mum Jean
NATO ACO Updates on Weekly Piracy Related Activities
During the reporting period of 09 – 16 January 2013 there were no piracy related incidents in the High Risk Area (HRA). The last of the hostages from the MV Orna have been released. The ship was pirated in Dec 2010 and freed in Oct 2012. However, a number of crew members had been kept […]
IMB: Worldwide Piracy Figures Drop, but Dangers Still Lurk
Naval and armed guard protection is working, but the seas off East and West Africa remain dangerous, warns IMB. Piracy on the world’s seas has reached a five-year low, with 297 ships attacked in 2012, compared with 439 in 2011, the latest International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) report revealed on Janu
UK’s Warships Join Forces in the Gulf
Personnel on board Portsmouth-based HMS Atherstone have put aside their minehunting skills to instead imitate pirates as part of an exercise with HMS Monmouth in the Gulf. The joint operations come as the Devonport-based frigate builds up to operational patrols policing international trade routes in
Former German Naval Training Ship MV Emsstrom Sinks
MV Emsstrom, a former German Naval training ship, which was on its way from Germany to Turkey, towed by tug Christos 22 sank on Monday, January 14, approximately 2.5 nautical miles east by north from Hopes Nose, Torquay, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency updated. Accordingly, the tug slowed to i
French Marine Nationale Anti-Air Frigate FS Jean Bart Welcomes USS Laboon Officers
Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) participated in an officer exchange between the U.S. and French navies aboard the French Marine Nationale anti-air frigate FS Jean Bart (D 615) in the Mediterranean Sea Jan. 11. Cmdr. Christopher F. Cigna, Laboon’s commanding officer,
UK: RFA’s Wave Knight Sets Sail for Counter Narcotics, Disaster Relief Patrol
A support ship to the Royal Navy has set sail for the West Coast of North America on a counter narcotics and disaster relief patrol for the next six months. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Wave Knight left Portland to take up the task of the UK’s Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North), a year round commit
UK: HMS Somerset Leaves Devonport Royal Dockyard for Sea Trials
Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset has left Devonport Royal Dockyard for sea trials with significantly increased sustainability and fighting capability, following a successful nine-month docking period undertaken by Babcock; the first major maintenance period conducted under the full implementation of the
French Frigate Surcouf Rescues Ten Sailors
Early yesterday morning EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) warship FS Surcouf came to the rescue of ten mariners at sea 30 miles off the Somali Coast, after their boat, known as a dhow, started to sink into the deep ocean. The master of the Indian flagged dhow had sent out a distress call after the [&hellip