The Director of Combined Maritime Forces in the Gulf region says coalition efforts have led to a fall in piracy attacks against merchant shipping and local fishing dhows but the risk to trade remains high. The International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre reported just one attempted attack
RFA Argus broke off from drug-busting duties in the Caribbean to deliver disaster relief aid to Jamaicans so they can repair more than 70 schools damaged by Superstorm Sandy last month. Although the local authorities dealt with the immediate aftermath of the storm, Argus carries also supplies which
Portsmouth mine warfare experts have now taken over command from their Faslane counterparts in charge of the Royal Navy’s key mine warfare force in the Gulf. After six months in the hot seat, the battle staff from the Faslane-based 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM1) have handed over command of
There’s a change of hands in the Indian Ocean as HMS Sutherland has been replaced by her sister Northumberland – as Britain’s constant effort to choke pirates, smugglers and other criminal activity continues. The Fighting Clan is homeward bound for Devonport in time for Christmas after five months e
As part of a four day visit to Valletta, Malta, RFA Mounts Bay hosted a Royal Visit from the Duke and Countess of Wessex. The visit, on Nov 20, coincided with the gifting of two ambulances from the East Midlands Ambulance Service to Malta St John’s Organisation. RFA Mounts Bay has transported the ve
During the night on 21 November, French warship FS Dupleix, operating as part of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) – Operation Atalanta, was patrolling along the northern coast of Somalia, when she was directed by the EU NAVFOR flagship to provide assistance to a Yemeni dhow – ‘Al Fahad’. T
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) task force consisting of Guards missile cruiser Moskva, destroyer Smetlivy, landing ships… [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, November 26, 2012
Hampshire firefighters have tested their procedures and emergency planning on board Britain’s oldest warship, HMS Victory, in Portsmouth. Crews from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service mobilised onto the historic ship, which attracts around 350,000 visitors per year, as if a real fire had broken out.
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) task group heading for the Somali coast to fight piracy is undergoing technical maintenance… [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, November 26, 2012
His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander Kingdom of Bahrain visited HMS Atherstone in Bahrain on 20 Nov 2012. He was accompanied by Commodore Simon Ancona Royal Navy, Commander United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander. During his visit His Ro
Although part of the ongoing Cougar 12 deployment to the Mediterranean, HMS Montrose was detached from the main Cougar Task Group for two weeks to visit Algiers, the capital and major port of the North African country of Algeria for two days in mid-November. The purpose of her visit, the first by a
Arnout Damen, COO of Damen Shipyards Group, officially opened a new office in Norwegian Stavanger. When asked why Dutch headquartered Damen Shipyards sets up an advanced base in Stavanger, its new Sales Manager Remko Hottentot said: “It is the European Oil & Gas capital and the place the ONS Exhibit
The Navy’s constant guardian of the Falklands welcomed royalty when the Duke of Kent visited patrol ship HMS Clyde in the lead up to November ceremonies in the remote islands. Despite a busy visit programme centred around the Remembrance Day parade in Stanley on November 11, the Duke was able to fin
On November 21, Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand, under command of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) worked in close co-operation with Turkish warship TCG Gemlik of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) to apprehended nine suspected pirates at sea off the coast of Somalia. In the early hours of the mo
