The 7th meeting of the Training Awareness and De-confliction (TRADE) group took place on 4 October at the Operational Headquarters of EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA in Northwood. “TRADE is a very useful tool to co-ordinate and de-conflict training by different stakeholders”, said Rear Admiral Christia
More than £2m of heroin and two bomb makers have been snared thanks to the latest busts by the Navy’s ‘eyes in the sky’ over Afghanistan. Ground troops intercepted drug runners trying to smuggle 2,200lb of heroin – with a street value in the UK in excess of £2m – after being guided by […]
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) frigate Smetlivy completes preparation for cruise to the Mediterranean Sea in order to attend the IONIEX 2011 Russian-Italian exercise. Recently, all ship’s systems were tested in different modes at sea, and the crew held teamwork drills. Joint exercise IONIEX regularly conduct
Cyprus is preparing legislation that will allow armed guards to board merchant ships to protect the crew, vessel and cargo from pirate attacks. Details of the new law will be discussed at the “Maritime Cyprus 2011” conference in Limassol that started on Monday where some 700 delegates also debated o
Increasingly assertive Turkey is setting the scene for clashes in the eastern Mediterranean. Since Thursday, Sept. 29, Turkish warships have been harassing Israeli merchant vessels in waters off Cyprus, debkafile’s military sources report. They come close enough to establish wireless communication a
Pacific Fleet (PF) task unit headed by Guard missile cruiser Varyag has finished courtesy visit to Japanese port Maizuru and laid a course for Mariana Islands (USA), reported RIA Novosti on Oct 1 referring to PF Commander’s press secretary Capt 1 rank Roman Martov. After large-scale exercise off Kam
No, we’ve not gone all AC/DC on you. The Black is the Black Duke – HMS Monmouth – and she’s back home in Devonport after six months east of Suez. That demanding tour of duty came to an end this morning when she made her way past Drake’s Island, past appreciative loved ones cheering […]
RFA Wave Ruler made a visit to the Caribbean island of Martinique from the 23rd to 26th September. This was the second time the ship had visited the island, with the first visit in April 2007. RFA Wave Ruler has previously been stationed in the Far East, Gulf and as APT(S) (Atlantic Patrol Task [&he
Governments have ceded control of the Indian Ocean to pirates and the small deployment of naval forces to the region is like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound – so says ICS Chairman Spyros M Polemis. And in a damning indictment of western governments, Mr Polemis will controversially suggest they
The Navy’s long-running mission off Libya is over for supply ship RFA Fort Rosalie. Fort Rosalie broke away from the Royal Navy’s keynote Cougar 11 amphibious deployment in May, since when she’s been devoted exclusively to Operation Unified Protector. The auxiliary has carried out the vital – but un
Fleet of Iranian patrol ships hindered pirates’ attempt to hijack a Russian-flagged vessel. Speaking at the press conference in Iranian southern port of Bushehr, Director-General of the Port and Maritime Organization of Bushehr province Mohammad Rastad said Iranian Navy warships deployed in the Gulf
A wave and a cheer for the good ship HMS Argyll from loved ones, gathered at Devil’s Point in Plymouth to see the frigate off on a six-month tour of duty. Britain’s oldest – but also most powerful – frigate is heading east of Suez to join her sisters in the ongoing international effort […]
The crew of Northern Fleet (NF) large ASW ship Severomorsk headed by Capt 1 rank Andrei Klimenko after termination of anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden entered the Mediterranean Sea via Suez Canal and has visited Syrian port Tartus. During the 3-day long formal call at Tartus, Severomorsk repl
The Netherlands is to extend its participation in NATO’s Operation Unified Protector by 3 months. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uri Rosenthal, and the Minster of Defence, Hans Hillen, on Wednesday 21 September. The Dutch contribution will continue to consist of a Dutch mineh
