Operations
HNLMS Amsterdam Intercepts 1,450 Kilogrammes of Cocaine
“A milestone”. This is how Brigadier General Dick Swijgman, Flag Officer Caribbean, described the seizure of 1,450 kilogrammes of cocaine by the CARIB guard ship HNLMS Amsterdam, earlier this week. The drugs represent a market value of over € 40 million. “This last drug haul brings the total of drug
New Zealand Naval Vessel to Visit a US Port after Over 30 Years
The United States and New Zealand announced on Monday a resumption of military-to-military contacts as part of expanded defense cooperation that will see the first visit by a New Zealand naval vessel to an American port in more than three decades. The announcement followed a meeting at the Pentagon
Royal Navy Completes Bilateral Exercise with Omani Forces
The Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG), currently deployed on Cougar 13, has successfully completed a six day exercise, Omani Cougar, with the Royal Omani Armed Forces. The maritime exercise tested the full integration of the Royal Navy and Royal Navy of Oman by conducting conventional ma
USS Nimitz Docks in Naples, Italy
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with embarked Carrier Strike Group 11, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and Destroyer Squadron 23 arrived in Naples, Italy for a port visit, Oct. 30. The visit allows Nimitz Strike Group Sailors and Marines the chance to experience the local culture and cust
HMAS Choules Wraps Up Its Mission at Manus Island
HMAS Choules has completed its mission at Manus Island and heads home today, 31 October 2013. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO, CSC, RAN said HMAS Choules provided maritime support to Department of Immigration and Border Protection efforts to increase the capacity of the facilities on Manus
Australian Navy’s Hydrographic Ships Survey Dawson Strait
Two of the Royal Australian Navy’s Coastal Hydrographic Survey ships have recently returned to their homeport of Cairns, having completed a survey of Dawson Strait, Papua New Guinea. The two ships, Mermaid and Paluma, commenced vital survey work in August to assist mariners in the safe passage and n
USS Princeton Concludes Theater Security Cooperation, Maritime Presence Deployment
Hundreds of friends and family members gathered at Naval Base San Diego Oct. 29 to welcome home the crew of guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) following a seven-month deployment that included regional security, theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations. The ship and cre
UK: Army, RAF Experience Life on Board HMS Richmond
Army and RAF personnel have been getting their sea legs on board HMS Richmond while on her patrol of the South Atlantic. The Yorkshire Regiment and 230 Squadron RAF are affiliated to the Portsmouth-based Type-23 frigate and seven personnel were given the opportunity to stay on board and experience l
USA: Lucky Mariner 14-1 Kicks Off
Members from Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) as well as commercial shipping industry representatives came together for exercise Lucky Mariner 14-1, Oct. 27. Lucky Mariner is a biannual U.S. Navy, coalition, and commercial shipping e
USS Princeton Arrives in San Diego
Guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) returned to San Diego Oct. 29 following the completion of an extended deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR). Deployed since April 3, the ship and her crew of more than 325 Sailors conducted operations with the USS Nimitz (
FGS Niedersachsen Provides Medical Assistance during Friendly Approach
German frigate FGS Niedersachsen, which is currently deployed with the EU Naval Force, recently carried out two friendly approaches on dhows. To help strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU Naval Force and local seafarers, as well as obtain first hand information about possible pira
USS Zumwalt Successfully Launched
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works successfully launched the Navy’s first Zumwalt-class destroyer Oct. 28 at their Bath, Maine shipyard. The future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) will be the lead ship of the Navy’s newest destroyer class, designed for littoral operations and land attack. The ship began its tr
USA: First Sapper 13 Exercise Closes
The Duyung community located in Timor-Leste’s Metinaro province received a three-classroom school house, playground and related support facilities, during an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, Oct. 28. The ribbon-cutting marked the end of Sapper 13 – a multilateral exercise designed to increase inter
Oman: HMS Bulwark Welcomes Head of Protocol Department for Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark welcomed His Highness Mohammed Bin Salim Al Said, Head of Protocol Department for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the official reception and capability demonstration held during her recent visit to Muscat, Oman. The event was to demonstrate the capabilities of