Training & Education
NATO Shipping Centre: Weekly Piracy Update
All 22 hostages from the MV Iceberg 1 have now been released from pirate captivity. They had been held since the Iceberg 1 was pirated on 29 March 2010, a period of two years and nine months. The former hostages are now recovering from their ordeal and are receiving food and medical care. On 21 [&he
Austal to Exercise Option for 10th JHSV
Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., is being awarded a $166,881,824 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-2217) to exercise the construction option for Joint High Speed Vessel 10. Contract funds in the amount of $166,881,824 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire
USS Peleliu Hosts Change of Command Ceremony
Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 3 held a change of command ceremony in the forecastle of amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), Dec. 20. Capt. Shawn Lobree relieved Capt. Mark Sakaguchi as commodore. Sakaguchi will report next as commander, Afloat Training Group Pacific in San Diego. The cere
HMS Blyth Returns to HM Naval Base Clyde, UK
HMS Blyth, one of the Royal Navy’s advanced Sandown-Class mine hunters, received an emotional welcomed home from families, friends and loved-ones, when the vessel and its 37-strong crew returned to HM Naval Base Clyde from a six-month NATO deployment. Home in time for Christmas and sporting Santa ha
USA: NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Recycles Debris from Hurricane Sandy
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic will recycle more than six miles of damaged metal pipes from Naval Weapons Station Earle, in a project that began Dec. 14, saving the Navy more than $150,000 in refuse removal fees for the material. According to Dave North, Naval Weapons Station Earl
ESPS Méndez Núnez Conducts Her First WFP Escort
During the night of 12 December, EU Naval Force flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez conducted her first World Food Programme (WFP) escort as part of the EU’s counter piracy mission – Operation Atalanta. ESPS Méndez Núnez escorted MV Canarsie Princess along the Somali coastline to ensure the food aid she was
USS John C. Stennis Supports Evaluation of New Materials for Flight Deck Jerseys
Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) were selected to participate in a four-month evaluation of the new design for flight deck working uniform shirts, or “jerseys,” in an effort to meet the long term needs of personnel who work on and around the flight deck.
USA: Iwo Jima ARG, 24th MEU Arrive at Naval Station Norfolk
More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed an eight-and-a-half-month deployment when the ships arrived at Norfolk Naval Station and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., Dec 18-20. While d
HMS Monmouth Safeguards Supertanker in Major Exercise
HMS Monmouth led Britain’s input to a five-day exercise in the Middle East demonstrating how the region’s naval forces can safeguard merchant shipping. The Devonport-based frigate was charged with protecting two supertankers from mock terrorist attack during Exercise Lucky Mariner 13, working alongs
HMS Penzance to Get Multi-Million-Pound Overhaul
HMS Penzance has arrived in Rosyth – the latest of the Sandown-class flotilla of minehunters to receive a multi-million-pound overhaul. The ship follows her recently-revamped sister Grimsby into the ship shed on the Forth, where she’ll spend five months receiving upgrades, improvements and a general
HDMS Iver Huitfeldt Frees Danish Ship after Pirate Attack
The Danish MV Torm Kristina was sailing to Muscat (Oman) in order to perform a quick logistical port visit, when she was approached by 2 suspected pirate skiffs. The crew quickly assembled in the citadel and sent a mayday message out. Meanwhile the mayday message was passed to the Commander of the N
USA: EPC Completes Training
The multinational training exercise Eurasia Partnership Capstone (EPC) 2012 concluded during a ceremony held at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center, Dec. 14. During the weeklong exercise, more than 80 representatives from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Romania, Ukraine
USS New Hampshire Holds Change of Command Ceremony
The third commanding officer of Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) assumed command during a time-honored change of command ceremony at the Naval Submarine Library and Museum in Groton, Conn., Dec. 17. Cmdr. Sean Fujimoto relieved Cmdr. John McGunnigle. Capt. Michael Bernacch
BNS Louise-Marie Apprehends Five Suspected Pirates
In the afternoon of 15 December 2012, the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Belgian frigate BNS Louise-Marie intercepted one skiff with five suspected pirates on board. While underway to the probable pirates’ operating area, the Swedish EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft (MPRA) was able to locate the suspi