Operations
JFD Wins ROV Contract from UK S&MO Team
James Fisher Defence (JFD), the leading global sub-sea operations and engineering company, has been awarded a four-year contract to provide Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) support services to the Ministry of Defence’s Salvage and Marine Operations (S&MO) team. The contract affords S&MO 24-hour, on
FS Floreal Performs Friendly Approaches with Local Seafarers
French frigate FS Floréal, which is currently deployed with the EU Naval Force, recently carried out several friendly approaches on dhows and skiffs off Somalia. With the consent of the ships’ masters, direct talks were conducted in order to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU
MH370: Bluefin-21 Completes Its Latest Mission
Yesterday afternoon, Bluefin-21 completed its last mission searching the remaining areas in the vicinity of the acoustic signals detected in early April by the Towed Pinger Locator deployed from ADV Ocean Shield, within its depth operating limits. The data collected on yesterday’s mission has been
HMS Somerset Seizes 60 Kilograms of Heroin
The UK Royal Navy has seized an £8.5m haul of heroin after a raid on a suspect vessel in the northern Arabian Sea. Nearly 60 kilograms of the drug was seized by sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Somerset, the Plymouth-based Type 23 Frigate, who intercepted the fishing boat in Royal Navy fast boat
Change of Command at CFAC
Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) held a change of command ceremony, May 27 with more than 300 Sailors, families, members of the local Korean community, and military leaders from the Republic of Korea navy in attendance. Cmdr. Michael Weatherford relieved Cmdr. Quinn Skinner as commander.
Spanish Ambassador to UK Visits EU Navfor Operational HQ
The Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Federico Trillo-Figueroa Martínez Conde, yesterday visited the Operational Headquarters of EU Naval Force at Northwood Base, North London. He was met by the Deputy Operational Commander of Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauz
Image of the Day: USS Vella Gulf Sailing under the Starry Sky
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) transiting the Black Sea on May 24. The cruiser entered the Black Sea on May 23. Vella Gulf is deployed in a multi-mission role in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility to contribute to regional maritime security and to suppor
New Commanding Officer at CSCS
Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) held a change of command and retirement ceremony on board Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va. May 23. Capt. Bill McKinley became the fifth commanding officer of CSCS when he relieved Capt. Don Schmieley. Schmieley had been CSCS’ commanding officer since Ap
‘Cristobal Colon’ Frigate’s Medical Team Assists Iranian Fishermen
The boarding squad of the Spanish Navy frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ (F-105) visited a ‘dhow’-type fishing boat north of the IRTC (Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor) in the Arabian Sea. The ‘dhow’ was sailing back to her Iranian home port with 16 people on board: 13 Iranian and 3 Pakistani
OPV ‘Tarifa’ Embarks on Fishing Monitoring Mission
The Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Tarifa’ has just departed from Cartagena to participate in the International Joint Deployment Plan in the Western Mediterranean Sea to monitor the fishing campaign of the Bluefin Tuna. This operation forms part of the European Fishing Agency initiativ
SNMCMG1 Vessels Arrive in Riga, Change Command
Last Friday, 23 May 2014, the five NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1) arrived in Riga, along with FGS Elbe, which assumed its new role as flagship for the Group upon Germany’s assumption of command on Monday, May 26. SNMCMG1 is visiting the port as part
HMAS Darwin, HMS Somerset Crews Swap Decks
HMAS Darwin has taken advantage of a cross-deck to exchange ideas with members of the Royal Navy ship HMS Somerset while conducting maritime security patrols in the Arabian Sea. HMAS Darwin is deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations as part of Operation Slipper’s contribution to the 30-nati
HMS Portland Celebrates 13th Birthday
HMS Portland’s ship’s company has celebrated the ship’s 13th birthday as they enter the fifth month of a seven-month deployment as the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Patrol Ship. HMS Portland was built on the Clyde and launched by her sponsor, Lady Heather Brigstocke on 15 May 1999. Following successful comp
HMS Somerset Organizes Service of Remembrance (UK)
HMS Somerset held a Service of Remembrance for personnel from HMS Brilliant who perished when their Lynx helicopter crashed in Mombasa, Kenya on 14 May 1989. The ship’s company of HMS Somerset, including the embarked Lynx flight crew, took time to remember those lost from the Type 22 Broadsword-cl