On Wednesday 23 April the German Secretary of Defence, Ursula von der Leyen, visited the EU Naval Force flagship, FGS Brandenburg during the German warship’s port visit to Djibouti. In what was her first visit to the German Navy since her inauguration, she met the troops from the European Union’s co
International Warships Dock in China for Multinational Drill China will host ships from seven countries these days ahead of the exercise “Sea Cooperation 2014″, according to the Times of India. The Indian Navy’s warship INS Shivalik arrived in one of the 10 busiest ports in the world, the Chinese Po
Joint, high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) arrived in Libreville, Gabon, for a port visit, April 23. The port visit serves to continue U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa’s efforts to work with African partners to strengthen maritime partnerships throughout Africa. “For the past few months, we’v
The Spanish Navy’s oceanic patrol vessel ‘Relámpago’, currently participating in the European-led counter-piracy operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean, has provided escort to a World Food Program ship transiting the area. The escorted vessel, the merchant ship ‘Juba Liner II’, departed from the
U.S., European, South American and African naval forces concluded two days of in-port familiarization drills at the Nigerian navy’s Joint Maritime Security Training Center, April 17. The evolutions were part of Obangame Express, a Gulf of Guinea-based multinational maritime exercise designed to im
USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) Christened The christening ceremony of the first Zumwalt-class destroyer, the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), took place at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard located in Bath, Maine on 12 April, 2014. Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Ray Mabus, and other honored guests attended the
Whilst conducting counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa different nations from different task forces often meet. In this case the US supply ship USNS Joshua Humphreys from Task Force 53 provided two flagships with fuel. FGS Brandenburg flagship of the EU Naval Force Somalia Operation At
Sailors and civil service mariners aboard joint, high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) delivered 46 pallets of humanitarian items donated by private companies to nongovernmental organizations as part of Project Handclasp in Lagos, Nigeria, April 15. Project Handclasp is a U.S. Navy program tha
This past weekend, NATO’s counter-piracy flagship, ESPS CRISTOBAL COLON, engaged with the Royal Omani Navy and the European Union Naval Force’s (EUNAVFOR) counter-piracy task force commander (CTF-465) following a port visit to Salalah, Oman. COLON departed Salalah on Saturday 12 April 2014 and con
Naval forces from the United States, Europe, South America and Africa commenced the multinational maritime exercise Obangame Express, April 16. Obangame Express, now in its fourth year, is designed to improve tactical expertise and cooperation among West and Central African nations in order to enh
On 11 April the Force Commander of EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, visited the first ship of his task force since he took over command. The Hellenic frigate HS Psara, which has been part of EU Naval Force since February 2014, is participating i
While patrolling in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Darwin provided emergency medical assistance for a heart attack victim on a French fishing vessel. The French Fishing Vessel (FV) Cape Saint Vincent called for assistance late on the night of the 10th of
“All those involved in the replenishment at sea are required at their station”. When this order is broadcast over loudspeakers on board the German tanker FGS Rhön, the seamanship crew reacts quickly by donning their hard hats and safety gear before making final preparations for what is a highly spec
Since Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen assumed force command of the EU Naval Force on Sunday 6 April, he has been very busy ensuring that his flagship, FGS Brandenburg, and the rest of the EU Naval Force warships and maritime patrol aircraft under his command are fully prepared for the important role
