Submariner, Commander Tony “Gecko” Ellis, has found new friends in far away places, during a visit to the Indian Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Tamil Nadu, India. Commander Ellis is a student at the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) in Canberra. He, and a small delegation
Commander, Task Force 63/Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (CTF-63/MSCEURAF), held a change of command ceremony at Naval Support Activity Naples Aug. 21. Capt. John Rinko relieved Capt. Richard Soucie as commander. The guest speaker, Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, a
A Royal Navy warship and RAF Typhoons have put their skills and technology to the test during a joint exercise. The aircraft joined HMS Dragon and US fighter jets in a training exercise to detect, classify and monitor contacts on the sea’s surface in the challenging conditions of the Gulf. The Type
Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious has held a Replenishment-At-Sea (RAS) with a French tanker as she continues her passage through the Mediterranean. The Portsmouth-based ship had to travel in close proximity – around 50 metres – to the FS Somme to allow fuel lines to pass from the tanker
On Sunday 18 August, fourteen participants along with several EUCAP Nestor trainers boarded the Dutch EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Flagship HNLMS Johan de Witt in Djibouti, to embark for a one week’s training course on Maritime Security. This course, the second to be organised by EUCAP Nestor, brings t
On August 6th, after passing through the Suez Canal, navigating the Red Sea and crossing the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, the Spanish warship ESPS Meteoro has been integrated into the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. The ESPS Meteoro is the first of a series of four mod
Yesterday Commander Task Force 465, Commodore Peter Lenselink, visited Commander Task Force 508, Commodore Henning Amundsen, on board HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN to discuss ongoing counter-piracy operations. Combined Task Force 465 is the European Union Naval Force, which executes counter piracy Operation
On 14 August, whilst in Djibouti the FGS Augsburg handed over the German commitment to the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to FGS Niedersachsen. The handover was presided over by Captain Stefan Pauly, Branch Head of Maritime Operations from the Joint Forces Operatio
In the last week there have been no significant events, as a result the NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) has removed all Areas of Concern which were published last week (01-07 Aug 2013), NSC said in a weekly update. Nevertheless, the threat of piracy remains and vigilance is required when transiting thoug
Sailors from the Royal and Italian Navies stood side-by-side as they honoured men killed in the battles to keep the nation’s maritime lifelines open in both World Wars. The ceremony at the Tower Hill Memorial in London was part of a five-day visit to the capital by the magnificent Italian naval cade
On Monday, 12 August 2013, the Dutch frigate HNLMS VAN SPEIJK concluded more than two months deployment in support of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD and began her voyage back to the Netherlands. VAN SPEIJK joined OCEAN SHIELD just days before Commodore Henning Amundsen took command of
Earlier this week, the Maltese Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team (MSDEBT) on board the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ship Johan de Witt conducted a fast-rope exercise. They fast-roped from one of the two Cougar helicopters embarked on the Dutch warship. The Johan de Witt is currently the flagship of
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) hosted U.S. and foreign flag and general officers from throughout Europe, Aug. 11 in support of regional maritime partnerships. U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, commander, Supreme Allied Command, Europe (SACEUR); U.S. Navy Adm. Bruce Clingan, commander, Allied Joint
Royal Navy warship HMS Westminster sailed from Portsmouth on August 13 as part of the Cougar ’13 deployment to the Mediterranean and Gulf which involves thousands of RN, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel. The long-planned deployment will see elements of the UK’s Response Force Task G
