Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark has announced an expansion project now underway at its waterfront shipbuilding complex in Franklin, Louisiana. The expansion is being undertaken to accommodate increased production needs, the company said. Metal Shark is erecting a fully-enclosed 200’ x 80’ la
The U.S. Navy’s next-generation destroyer USS Zumwalt experienced engineering problems while transiting the Panama Canal en route to its new homeport, Defense News reported. USS Zumwalt had to be towed to a berth, the report said citing U.S. Navy. Problems likely resulted from an issue with heat exc
The U.S. Navy has shared a report of its guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) helping three Iranian mariners in distress in the Persian Gulf on November 18. According to the U.S. Navy, Nitze received notification from aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) of a small fishing
The navies of U.K. and U.S. concluded their joint mine countermeasures (MCM) exercise 17-1 in the Persian Gulf, on November 17. The 38-day, bilateral exercise between the U.S. Navy and U.K. Royal navy was designed to provide an opportunity for both nations to share knowledge of MCM techniques. U.S.
The F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jets that are currently carrying out the third developmental test phase (DT-III) aboard amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) reached a new milestone as the program completed weapons load testing on November 16. A group of the next-generation aircraft fro
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Fredericton set sail for Havana, Cuba, on November 18 to become the first Royal Canadian Navy ship to visit Cuba in over 50 years. HMCS Fredericton will visit the ports of Havana, Cuba; Cartagena, Colombia; and Veracruz, Mexico, to enhance mutual understanding, coope
U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on November 18, completing her six-month Western Pacific deployment. While deployed, Columbia visited the ports of Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan, as well as the island of Guam. They als
An all-volunteer group of 61 sailors from the U.S. Navy’s future aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) joined the crew of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) who have spent five months supporting operation Inherent Resolve. The Ford sailors, who have spent their entire tour at Newport News Sh
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to Rota, Spain after a four month deployment that included supporting French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle as it carried out strikes against ISIS. Ross began its patrol in July 2016 and, apart from supporting
Sailors aboard Australian frigate HMAS Darwin and Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver carried out boarding drills while they were en route to Auckland for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th Anniversary International Naval Review. That was before both ships were retasked to assist the New Zealand with the
The U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $25 million contract to Sauer, Inc. for the construction of a littoral combat ship (LCS) operational training facility at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. The building will include systems trainers, simulators, classrooms, per
Sailors and marines aboard the U.S. Navy’s amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines, November 16, for a port visit while operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Subic Bay marks the second port visit for Comstock after departing Naval Station Sa
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon $25.4 million under a contract modification to exercise an option for the DDG 1002 Zumwalt-class destroyer mission system equipment MK 57 vertical launch system. Named after U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, DDG 1002 is the second of overall th
Spanish Navy auxiliary support ship ESPS Patiño is currently on its second deployment providing logistic support to the Royal Canadian Navy under an agreement between the two countries. Canada had to make arrangements with Chilean and Spanish Navies for the lease of supply ships as its own resupply
