An emotional homecoming is expected when the Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset returns to HM Naval Base Devonport, Plymouth, on Friday (24 February) following a six-month deployment to the Middle East. HMS Somerset’s second-in-command Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Ben Aldous, said: “Our home
Sailors will now receive imminent danger pay (IDP) only for days they actually spend in IDP areas, according to NAVADMIN 062/12, released Feb. 17. This change, announced by the Department of Defense Feb. 2 and enacted in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, was implement
12 countries, including the Royal Netherlands Navy as a representative of the Netherlands, are currently combating drugs smuggling in a large area of the Caribbean extending to the Pacific Ocean in Operation Martillo. The emphasis is on South and Central American coastal waters. This operation will
Designers of JSC Sevmash shipyard are resolving complex technical issues when working on Project 11430 aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya being modernized for Indian Navy, reports the shipyard’s press service. For Sevmash, INS Vikramaditya is one of the major projects to be completed in 2012. Main we
U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) departed from Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka for patrol Feb. 21. Commanded by Capt. Daniel Grieco, Blue Ridge is manned by more than 700 Sailors, including embarked 7th Fleet staff and Marines from Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Pacific.
High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 unloaded approximately $4 billion of Project Handclasp humanitarian supplies in Cap Haiten, Haiti Feb. 16 during the ship’s final port visit of a four-month mission supporting HSV-Southern Partnership Station 2012 (HSV-SPS 12) in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea.
The instances of piracy off the coast of Somalia have been a constant source of concern for the Government. The Ministry of Shipping, in close co-ordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Navy and other agencies has been making discreet efforts to secure the release of Indian maritime
The flagship of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West 2012, USS Simpson (FFG 56), along with embarked staff, arrived in Tema, Ghana, Feb. 18 to begin their involvement with the APS 2012 Ghanaian hub. The hub, taking place after a recent port visit to Nigeria, brings training designed to strengthen A
Two Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) engineers returned from deployment on two different large-deck surface platforms in support of the U.S. Navy’s at sea, live and synthetic exercise Bold Alligator 2012 that ended Feb. 12. Luis Ramirez-Lugo embarked USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
USS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) Diversity Council hosted a ceremony for the crew in the ship’s hangar bay, Feb. 17, in celebration of African-American History Month. Lincoln Sailors performed songs by African-American artists and viewed various displays and presentations acknowledging the achievement
Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief ADM Vladimir Vysotsky took part in the session of defense ministry’s press club. Meeting with the press, he discussed current condition of Russian Navy and its development prospects till and after 2020. Speaking of implementation of the shipbuilding program, Vysotsky
“Debates over taxation of cargoes delivered from Russia to Black Sea Fleet (BSF) have been lasting for years. According to international practice, goods of such kind delivered to a military base are not liable to taxes and customs clearance”, reports Interfax citing Russian ambassador to Ukraine Mik
The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) concluded a three-day engagement visit to Canberra and Darwin, Australia, Feb. 21. Adm. Mark Ferguson met with Chief of the Australian Navy Vice Adm. Ray Griggs and U.S. Ambassador Hon. Jeffrey L. Bleich, toured naval facilities, and delivered remarks to stu
The Los Angeles fast-attack submarine USS Montpelier (SSN 765) returned to Naval Station Norfolk from a regularly scheduled deployment Feb. 17. Under the command of Cmdr. Thomas A. Winter, Montpelier is returning from the European Command area of responsibility where it executed the nation’s maritim
