Vessels
Australian OPV construction kicks off with steel cutting ceremony
Construction works on the Royal Australian Navy’s new generation of offshore patrol vessels officially kicked off with a steel cutting ceremony on Wednesday. The steel cutting for the first of overall 12 vessels took place at Civmec’s Western Australia facility. Civmec will be responsible for buildi
International SMARTEX exercise wraps up in the Mediterranean Sea
Ships and personnel from the US, Spain, Germany and France concluded the four-day Smart Defense Exercise (SMARTEX) on September 28. SMARTEX is a NATO initiative designed to enhance interoperability and training between participating countries. During the exercise, Spanish sailors embarked aboard the
USS Wasp visits Singapore after South China Sea drills
After completing integrated Defense of the Amphibious Task Force (DATF) drills in the South China Sea, US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) entered Singapore’s Changi Naval Base together with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) for a scheduled port visit on October 2. Capt. Col
Seaspan contracts Hawboldt Industries for Canadian Navy JSS deliveries
Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan announced it has awarded Hawboldt Industries two contracts totaling CAD$8 million for work on Canada’s new Joint Support Ships (JSS). This is one of several contracts expected to be announced for Canadian suppliers supporting Seaspan’s work on naval supply ships under th
SMIT Salvage lands US Navy marine salvage contract
SMIT Salvage, a Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) subsidiary, has received two five-year marine salvage contracts to serve as the exclusive marine salvage and engineering support contractor for the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). SMIT Salvage will provide the US Navy with marine salv
Finland, Estonia kick off joint naval drill Baltic Shield 2018
The navies of Finland and Estonia have started the joint Baltic Shield 2018 exercise in the Archipelago Sea and Gulf of Finland. The exercise got underway on October 1 and is scheduled to conclude October 11. Baltic Shield 2018 is a mine counter-measures and firing exercise for vessel units of the F
Update: USS Decatur had unsafe interaction with Chinese destroyer during South China Sea FONOP
US Navy destroyer USS Decatur had a close encounter with a Chinese destroyer during a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea on Sunday. The unidentified Chinese destroyer came as close as 45 ft to USS Decatur in what was described as an “unsafe and unprofessional maneuver” by US Paci
HII gets $97m long-lead contract for 11th US Coast Guard NSC
The US Coast Guard has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division a $97 million fixed-price contract to purchase long-lead materials for an 11th National Security Cutter (NSC). The advance procurement funds will be used to purchase major components for NSC 11, such as steel
Australian frigate returns to port with rescued yachtsman
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has returned to port with a rescued solo round-the-world yachtsman. Ballarat’s MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopter recovered Irish national, Gregor McGuckin, from a French scientific research station on Amsterdam Island after he was transported there by Fren
USS Decatur challenges China with Spratly Islands freedom of navigation operation
US Navy destroyer USS Decatur (DDG-73) challenged China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea with a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the vicinity of the disputed Spratly Islands. On Sunday, September 30, Decatur came within 12 miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in a region claimed by
Oceaneering gets $68m for US Navy dry deck shelter maintenance support
Virginia-based Oceaneering International has been awarded a $68.8 million contract for maintenance, product improvement and design services on the US Navy’s dry deck shelter (DDS) program. The contract provides Naval Special Warfare Command with engineering services to support maintenance, product i
UK MoD names new Type 26 frigate, ends assault ship cuts rumors
UK defense secretary Gavin Williamson on September 30 announced the name of another Type 26 frigate and revealed that the Royal Navy assault ships HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion would not be scrapped. Speaking in Birmingham, Williamson said that the fourth of the UK’s eventual eight Type 26 frigates wil
Five Power Defence Arrangements drill Bersama Lima starting in South China Sea
The biennial Five Power Defence Arrangements exercise Bersama Lima is starting in the South Cina Sea on Tuesday. Involving ships, aircraft and personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK, the exercise will include live fire and command post exercises over a two-week period.
US Coast Guards awards funds for OPC construction start
Construction of US Coast Guard’s new offshore patrol cutters (OPCs) is officially starting after the service awarded funds to Eastern Shipbuilding Group to begin construction of the lead OPC ‘Argus’. The contract options which were announced September 28 also include funds for long lead-time materia