Operations
NATO Shipping Centre: Weekly Piracy Update
All 22 hostages from the MV Iceberg 1 have now been released from pirate captivity. They had been held since the Iceberg 1 was pirated on 29 March 2010, a period of two years and nine months. The former hostages are now recovering from their ordeal and are receiving food and medical care. On 21 [&he
Sri Lanka Navy Continues Flood Relief Assistance
Sri Lanka Navy is continuing relief assistance to the areas affected by prevailing inclement weather conditions. Three flood relief teams have been deployed to assist people in the areas of Kiran in the Batticaloa District and Thimbiriyaya in the Trincomalee District. Two flood relief teams are on s
Sri Lanka Navy Apprehends 27 Indian Fishermen
Naval craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 27 Indian fishermen and 4 Indian fishing trawlers poaching in the Sri Lankan waters East of Mullaithivu on 23rd December 2012. They were brought to Trincomalee Harbour and handed over to the Police for legal action. SLN vessels and craft
Somali Pirates Release Crew of MV Iceberg 1
A vessel’s crew hijacked almost three years ago by Somali pirates has been freed, says the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB). After 1000 days in captivity the 22 remaining crew of the MV Iceberg 1 were freed as a result of a two-week operation by the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) in Ga
USS Peleliu Hosts Change of Command Ceremony
Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 3 held a change of command ceremony in the forecastle of amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), Dec. 20. Capt. Shawn Lobree relieved Capt. Mark Sakaguchi as commodore. Sakaguchi will report next as commander, Afloat Training Group Pacific in San Diego. The cere
HMS Blyth Returns to HM Naval Base Clyde, UK
HMS Blyth, one of the Royal Navy’s advanced Sandown-Class mine hunters, received an emotional welcomed home from families, friends and loved-ones, when the vessel and its 37-strong crew returned to HM Naval Base Clyde from a six-month NATO deployment. Home in time for Christmas and sporting Santa ha
Chinese, Australian Naval Officers Share Counter-Piracy Lessons
Chinese and Australian naval officers shared their experiences in the conduct of counter-piracy operations in the Middle East Area of Operations at a roundtable meeting on thursday. Rear Admiral Zhou Xu-Ming Commander of the Chinese Naval Task Group and the commanding officers of three visiting Peop
UK: Royal Navy Warship HMS Diamond Returns Home to Portsmouth
Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond returned home to Portsmouth on today (December 21) from a successful maiden deployment to the Middle East.The new Type 45 destroyer sailed more than 31,000 miles on security and counter-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf. HMS Diamond left
ESPS Méndez Núnez Conducts Her First WFP Escort
During the night of 12 December, EU Naval Force flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez conducted her first World Food Programme (WFP) escort as part of the EU’s counter piracy mission – Operation Atalanta. ESPS Méndez Núnez escorted MV Canarsie Princess along the Somali coastline to ensure the food aid she was
UK: Royal Navy Hands Over Command of CTF after ‘Wholehearted’ Efforts
For the sixth time the Royal Navy has handed over the reins of a task force clamping down on piracy and terrorism in the Middle East. Two dozen sailors and Royal Marines, led by Commodore Bob Tarrant, have directed the operations of Combined Task Force 150 in the Indian Ocean for the past four month
USS John C. Stennis Provides a Holiday Feast
Supply Department’s food service division (S-2) aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) gave the crew a taste of home by serving a holiday meal Dec. 19. More than 5,000 Sailors gathered to feast on approximately 7,000 pounds of food, ranging from steamed chipped beef an
USS Topeka Arrives at PNS
Attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) and her crew of 13 officers and 120 enlisted personnel arrived Dec. 16 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. While at the shipyard, Topeka will complete various maintenance work and several system upgrades. Topeka is the third ship of the United States Navy named for th
USS John C. Stennis Supports Evaluation of New Materials for Flight Deck Jerseys
Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) were selected to participate in a four-month evaluation of the new design for flight deck working uniform shirts, or “jerseys,” in an effort to meet the long term needs of personnel who work on and around the flight deck.
USA: Iwo Jima ARG, 24th MEU Arrive at Naval Station Norfolk
More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed an eight-and-a-half-month deployment when the ships arrived at Norfolk Naval Station and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., Dec 18-20. While d