Training & Education
MPRA Detachment Achieves 1000 Sorties as Part of EU Navfor
On Sunday 16 February, the Luxembourg Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachment flew its 1,000th operational sortie as part of the EU Naval Force. As the Swearingen SW3C Merlin aircraft landed back in the Seychelles, it was given an impressive ‘water-spray’ welcome by the Seych
FS Siroco and FGS Hessen Save Injured Fisherman
EU Naval Force warships have once again come to the rescue of fishermen off the coast of Somalia. Following FGS Hessen’s rescue of a 14 year old fisherman from a capsized boat on Wednesday 12 February, this latest rescue, which happened on Thursday 13 February, saw French warship, FS Siroco and Ge
Ukrainian Warship Hetman Sagaidachniy Visits Salalah, Oman
Between Sunday 2 and Saturday 8 February, Ukrainian Navy frigate, Hetman Sagaidachniy, which is currently operating with the EU Naval Force off the coast of Somalia, visited the port of Salalah in Oman. Having spent a number of weeks at sea, the visit was an opportunity to refuel the ship and to r
ESPS Tornado Trains with Malagasy Navy
Crewmembers of the Spanish Navy warship ESPS Tornado, assigned to EU Naval Force, conducted an exercise with the Malagasy Navy. The exercise took place in Antisiranana, Madagascar from 5 to 8 February and included participation of 18 people from the Malagasy Navy. The primary goal of the exercise
Russian Navy Gets New Tugboat
The tugboat of project 90600 “RB-401”, built by Russian Pella shipyard, joined the Russian Navy on February 1st, 2014 at a ceremony in Kaliningrad. The tugboat is intended for towing and berthing operations, as well as refloating of ships and vessels, fire fighting operations at floating and shore
UK Warships Exchange Duties in the Indian Ocean
HMS Westminster has handed over her Op Kipion duties in the Indian Ocean to her sister ship HMS Somerset and is heading home, due for return at the end of the month. The frigate rounded off her six-month deployment with a final replenishment at sea with US Naval Ship (USNS) Alan Shepard. While kee
EU Navfor Saves 880,000 Tonnes of WFP Aid from Pirates
The EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta warships have saved about 880,000 tonnes of world food programme aid from pirate attacks, thus achieving the EU Navfor’s primary goal. Operation Atalanta, also known as European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU-NAVFOR-ATALANTA), is a current military oper
First US Navy’s Aegis Destroyer Docks in Spain
The first of four US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), arrived on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 at Naval Station Rota, Spain, which will be its new permanent homeport. With the arrival, the destroyer kick started her forward deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operati
Crew of German Navy Ship Changes Helicopter’s Engine
The crew of the German Navy ship, FGS Hessen, which is currently deployed within the EU Naval Force, changed an engine of the warship’s Sea Lynx Mark 88A helicopter during their recent port visit to the Seychelles last month. The procedure of changing an engine is extremely specialized and require
Djibouti: Force Commander Visits EU NAVFOR Units
Force Commander of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) , Rear Admiral Herve Blejean, visited the Naval Force ships located in Djibouti. The Commander met with German and Spanish Maritime patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft teams, along with the Support Element of Operation Atalanta (SEA). The
Italian Frigate Concludes Deployment within EU NAVFOR
Italian Navy frigate ITS Libeccio has completed her deployment within the European Naval Force Operation Atalanta. During the four-month deployment, ITS Libeccio conducted about 50 friendly approaches to local vessels in the Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin and the Arabian Sea. Crew of the Italian Navy
Italian, Ghana Navies Plan Joint Maritime Training
The Italian and Ghana navies are scheduled to hold a joint maritime training from March 5-10, 2014, according to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Laura Carpini, announced the holding of the exercise amid her visit to Vice Admiral Mathew Quarshie,
S. Korean, Ukrainian Warships Hold First Joint Anti-Piracy Exercise
The South Korean Navy destroyer ROKS Choi Young has finished a joint exercise with the Ukrainian Navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachnyi in the Gulf of Aden. This was the first time in the history of the Ukrainian Navy to conduct an exercise with the South Korean Navy. The primary goal of the exercise wa
GALLERY: HMS Westminster Hunts Submarines east of Suez
The Royal Navy’s frigate HMS Westminster staged a submarine hunt east of the Suez Canal, where she is wrapping up her anti-piracy deployment in anticipation of the arrival of her sister HMS Somerset, which will take over in early February. The tests included firing of a red-tipped dummy torpedo St