Training & Education
Babcock Starts Upgrading UK Warship
Babcock is beginning a six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)) on Sandown class mine hunter HMS Bangor at its Rosyth dockyard, which will include a number of upgrades and a substantial maintenance package. Bangor is due to go into dock later this week. The SP(D) is being carried out under Surface
EU Navfor Maintains Strong Links with Combined Maritime Forces, NATO to Deter Somali Piracy
When Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjéan took over the Force Headquarters of the EU Operation Atalanta on Friday 6 December, one of his first actions was to meet with the Force Commanders of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), Commodore Aage Buur Jensen, and NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield, Rear Admiral Eugeni
Federal German Ship Hessen Hosts EU Navfor Commander
On Friday morning 13 December 2013, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean, who is the EU Force Commander for Operation Atalanta warships conducting counter piracy patrols off the Somali coast, visited Federal German Ship (FGS) Hessen. After being flown on board FGS Hessen by the German warship’s Sea Lynx MK-88
Cantabria Departs from Turkish Naval Base, Heads Home
Spanish fleet replenishment ship ‘Cantabria’ has just departed from Aksaz (Turkey), the third and final port of call after visiting Indonesia and India during her cruise back to Spain. Since her departure from Sydney on November 1st, the ship has sailed 39 days with two logistic calls at Jakarta (In
Italian Frigate Assists Yemeni Fishing Dhow
On Friday 13 December EU Naval Force frigate, ITS Libeccio came to the assistance of a Yemeni fishing dhow that was sailing along the Somali coast with 38 people on board. Due to poor weather conditions, one of two skiffs that were being towed astern of the dhow had capsized and started to sink. Ful
FS Siroco Hosts Meeting with Somaliland Representatives
On Sunday, 15 December 2013, EU Naval Force French flagship, FS Siroco hosted a meeting with Somaliland representatives, including Vice President Abdirahman Abdallahi Ismail Saylici. “We welcome this engagement with EUCAP Nestor as it will pave the way for technical cooperation in the field of mar
Australian Navy Personnel Return from Training in Spain
Fifteen Navy personnel returned from Spain yesterday after completing a seven week course to learn how to drive and operate the Navy’s new Landing Craft Mechanical 1E (LCM1E). The Spanish Armada LCM1E School based in Cadiz ran the course for 11 members of NUSHIP Canberra along with external agency t
HMS Lancaster Arrives in Portsmouth, UK
Portsmouth-based warship HMS Lancaster returns home to Portsmouth on Wednesday (December 18) from a successful drug-busting deployment to the North Atlantic and Caribbean. The Type 23 frigate spent seven months in the region, seizing drugs with a total street value of £160m. “Seven months is a long
Ukrainian Navy Command Revises Lessons Learnt in Active Endeavor
The Ukrainian Navy Command hosted a debriefing on Ternopil corvette’s (U209) participation in NATO’s Active Endeavor anti-terrorist operation held in the Mediterranean. Admiral Yurii Ilyin, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, remarked that the corvette’s crew and the inspection group had successfully c
Italian Warship Hosts Force Commander of EU Navfor
On Wednesday 11 December the Force Commander of EUNAVFOR, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjéan, visited ITS Libeccio. The Italian warship is currently conducting counter piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean as part of the European Union’s Operation Atalanta. The visit was an opportunity for the
Spanish Navy Patrol Vessel Tornado Supports Food Aid to Reach Kismayo
On Wednesday 11 December, Spanish EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) ship ESPS Tornado completed a three day escort of a World Food Programme (WFP) chartered vessel. The WFP ship was escorted by ESPS Tornado from Mombasa to the port of Kismayo in Somalia. During the escort, members of the Spanish Navy crew
HMS Daring Docks in Shanghai, China
After supporting ongoing British relief efforts in the Philippines, HMS Daring has arrived in Shanghai. The goodwill visit to China comes at an important time in bilateral relations, just after the UK-China summit when Prime Minister David Cameron led a strong delegation of ministers and businessmen
Ukrainian Frigate Resumes Anti-Piracy Patrol under Ocean Shield
On December 10, the servicemen of the national contingent of the Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachnyi, led by Rear Admiral Andriy Tarasov flew on Ka-27 helicopter to the Spanish Frigate Alvaro de Bazan (F101) where they got acquainted with the new Commander of NATO’s Tactical Group of Ships, Rear A
FS Siroco Joins EU NAVFOR
On Friday 6 December 2013, the French Navy ship FS Siroco joined the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. FS Siroco will be the flagship of the European Union’s counter piracy operation off the coast of Somalia for the next four months. Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean is the Force Comma