Whilst conducting counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, Operation Atalanta flagship, ESPS Galicia, hosted a number of local leaders on board. Meetings such as this help to build mutual trust and understanding between counter-piracy forces and the Somali population. The leaders were greete
The search for missing Indian Coast Guard aircraft continues uninterrupted by the Indian Coast Guard and Naval ships and aircraft. INS Sandhayak, a hydrographic survey vessel of the Navy, arrived in the area to assist in the search efforts on the night of 11/12 June. The vessel is using its underwat
The officers and crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) held a change-of-command ceremony on board Naval Base San Diego, June 11. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Walter Mainor relieved Cmdr. Chanden Langhofer as commanding officer. Langhofer assumed command of William P. L
The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed Hong Kong after completing a five-day port visit, June 10. The visit served as the first port call for Essex, which departed San Diego May 11 for a regularly-scheduled deployment. Essex is cu
The Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) departed Manado, Indonesia, after a four-day port visit, June 9. During the visit, Sailors and Marines were welcomed to a variety of activities through Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tours. Cmdr. Thomas Stephens, Rushm
Ten Malagasy naval officers carried out counter-piracy training on board the Operation Atalanta flagship, ESPS Infanta Cristina, during the Spanish warship’s recent visit to Diego Suarez. The training demonstrated how the EU Naval Force communications system called Mercury is used to exchange inform
US Navy’s USS Rushmore (LSD 47) rendered assistance to 65 people on makeshift bamboo rafts in the waters between the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi June 10. Shipboard lookouts spotted the distressed persons waving orange and white flags. Rushmore’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Thomas Ste
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), completed an at-sea missile exercise (MISSILEX), June 7. A MISSILEX is conducted annually to meet training and readiness requirements for strike fighter squadrons (VFA). Participating squadron
The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Colon, Panama, on June 9 after completing an eight-day mission stop in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15). CP-15 mission personnel worked alongside volunteers from Panama’s Ministry of Health, government and medical p
The “Cougars” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island June 4 after a nearly 10-month deployment in support of U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. VAQ-139 arrived home after participating in exercise Valiant Shield, Operation Inherent Resolve and co
On June 8, Rear Admiral (PRT Navy) Alberto Manuel Silvestre Correia took command of Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) during a ceremony on board the new SNMG1 flagship NRP D. FRANCISCO de ALMEIDA. The ceremony was presided by Vice Admiral Peter Hudson (UK Navy), Commander of NATO’s Allied Mar
The Spanish Navy patrol boat ‘Alborán’ has returned to Cartagena after a 40-day deployment participating in this year’s NEAFC (North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission) seasonal campaign in the Irminger Sea, 210 miles south of Iceland. The Spanish Navy conducted 20 inspections of trawlers from diffe
BMT Design & Technology (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, in collaboration with Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), has secured funding through the Australian Defence Science Institute’s Collaboration Research Grant Scheme which, this year, attracted more than 30 high quality res
During the first week in June 2015, a team from Operation Atalanta flagship, ESPS Galicia, met local Somali fishermen during an EU counter-piracy patrol along the Somali coastline. These meetings at sea take place when fishermen or local seafarers invite the naval forces on board to discuss any conc
