HMAS Toowoomba has intercepted a vessel carrying approximately 388 kilograms of heroin in international waters off the east coast of Africa. The drug seizure on 17 November 2014 was part of a determined multi-national campaign to disrupt drug smuggling in the Indian Ocean, profits from which provide
EU Naval Force Dutch frigate, HNLMS Van Speijk, has escorted a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the Somali coast to keep it safe from a potential pirate attack. The WFP ship was carrying food such as soya, cooking oil and flour from Mombasa in Kenya to the Somali port of Kismayo. The food wil
Maritime professionals from South and East Africa, Europe, Indian Ocean nations and the U.S. met to begin finalizing plans for the fourth iteration of Cutlass Express 2015, Nov. 18. The three-day planning event seeks to finalize exercise scenarios, participant force offerings, schedule of events, an
Earlier today the Chief of the German Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, visited the EU Naval Force Operational Headquarters in Northwood, London. The visit was an opportunity for Vice Admiral Krause to be given an update on Operation Atalanta, the European Union’s counter-piracy operation of
On Sunday 9 November the Spanish Ambassador to Oman, His Excellency Mr Juan José Urtasun, paid a visit to ESPS Navarra during her port visit to Muscat, Oman. Port visits such as this are an opportunity to resupply the Spanish warship with food and stores, and give the crew the opportunity to take so
On Saturday 15 November the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, visited the Serbian maritime protection team that is currently embarked in a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel. The protection team, known as an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment, or AVPD, is tasked, as part of the EU Na
Spanish Navy’s Meteoro class Offshore patrol vessel Rayo P42 waved goodbye to its Las Palmas Naval Base yesterday morning. The vessel started its journey to the Indian Ocean where it will participate in EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta, joining a fight against piracy off the Horn of Africa. This is Ra
One of Operation Atalanta’s objectives is to develop a greater understanding of the way of life of fishermen and other seafarers who sail in the Gulf of Aden. As a result, EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria was recently tasked to meet local fishermen, who, until two years ago, lived with the
Virtual Technology Changes Design of UK Navy Warships BAE Systems’ Engineers are overhauling their approach to the design and build of Royal Navy warships by using cutting edge virtual reality technology. US Navy’s EA-6B Prowler Retires As the sun sets on USS George H.W. Bush’s (CVN 77) current depl
EU Naval Force warship BNS Leopold I is now halfway through her deployment as part of EU Naval Force. Over the last two months, the warship has conducted counter-piracy operations across the Area of Operations. She has also conducted friendly approaches on more than 20 local dhows and skiffs. Recent
USS Jimmy Carter Propulsion Deal Goes to DRS Technologies DRS Power & Control Technologies is being awarded a $17,9 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the accomplishment of the redesign of the advanced secondary propulsion unit motor con
The presence of Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Argus is already being felt in Sierra Leone, one of the countries worst affected by Ebola. Within minutes of her arrival crew members were already unloading Department for International Development stores and 32 off road vehicles which are now being use
Between 24 October and 6 November 2014 the Royal New Zealand Air Force contributed to the European Union’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia. This is the first time that the Royal New Zealand Air Force has participated in the EU counter-piracy mission, with its P-3K
On Sunday 2 November the German Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), which is currently operating as part of the EU Naval Force, reached an impressive 4,000 flying hours milestone with Operation Atalanta. As the German P3C Orion landed back at its base in Djibouti on Sunday, the aircr
