A small team of about 20 Royal Danish Air Force officers and enlisted men fly along the coast of Somalia, verifying shipping activity, distinguishing legitimate maritime traffic from suspected pirate vessels and identifying probable pirate activities off the coastline of Somalia. The crew operates a
A Royal Navy Scimitar-class fast patrol boat has reportedly fired warning shots at a Spanish patrol vessel as it was harassing a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine. USS Florida, an Ohio-class submarine, was trying to dock in Gibraltar when the Spanish vessel crossed its path two times, whereafter HMS Sabre
Spanish Navy frigate Numancia and Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise, presently deployed in EUNAVFOR’s operation Sophia in the Mediterranean Sea, rescued 436 people off the coast of Libya. The Spanish frigate was on patrol in the area when a maritime patrol aircraft spotted and informed of a boat
French Navy’s multi-mission frigate FS Provence recently wrapped up her action-packed five month deployment as she returned to her homeport in Brest, France on April 21, 2016. Commissioned into service in June 2015, the Provence sailed from Brest November 15, 2015 for her first deployment which led
Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel ESPS Tornado, currently deployed to Operation Atalanta, recently visited Madagascar. Whilst alongside in the port of Antsiranana, members of her crew invited counterparts from the Malagasy Navy on board to participate in training exercises. The training focused
Having concluded her deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1, German Navy submarine U 34 returned to her homeport in Eckernförde, Germany. The Type 212 A submarine set sail for Scotland with the ‘Foxtrott’ crew at the end of March. She joined SNMG 1 to participate in the international exercis
Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Tyne recently completed her Operational Sea Training (OST) and is ready for continued operations in and around UK waters. The Portsmouth-based ship spent a few weeks under the direction of Flag Officer Sea Training North (FOST(N)), leaving her usual operating areas of th
The UK Ministry of Defense has awarded Qinetiq a £1m ($1.45m) contract to demonstrate the integration of unmanned systems into Royal Navy operations. Under the contract with the Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic Capability (MHC) team in the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), QinetiQ wil
Spanish Navy frigate Santa María (F-81) set sail from Rota Naval Base to integrate into the EU-led counter-piracy Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean until the end of September. The farewell ceremony was presided over by Commander 41st Escort Squadron, Captain Ramón Godín. Operation Atalanta is a
Turkey began construction of the nation’s first amphibious assault ship with a steel cutting ceremony on April 30. Based on the Spanish Navy’s landing helicopter dock (LHD) Juan Carlos I and designed by Navantia, the Turkish version of the ship will be named TCG Anadolu and have the pennant number L
French defense and security company ECA Group recently demonstrated their autonomous underwater vehicle in the harbor of Brest, France. The A27-M AUV, as the vessel is named, was demonstrated to a number of French and foreign naval officials including representatives of OCCAR. ECA Group displayed th
French defense contractor Thales announced that it was awarded two contracts for the supply of above-water and underwater solutions for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). These contracts will see Thales modernize the Bang Rachan Class Minehunters and supply the combat, navigation and communication suite onb
European naval vessels rescued a total of 587 migrants trying to reach Europe in five unseaworthy boats. In the morning hours of April 29, a Spanish maritime patrol aircraft spotted the migrants and reported that one of the boats was in poor condition and semi-sunken. Four ships assigned to EUNAVFOR
Irish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel Le Roisin (P 51) departed the Naval Base Haulbowline, Ireland on May 1 and headed for the Mediterranean. The ship is to undertake humanitarian search and rescue operations in conjunction with the Italian authorities. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Ultan Finegan