Vessels
US Navy identifies missing USS Stethem sailor after suspending search
After suspending search efforts, the U.S. Navy identified the missing USS Stethem (DDG 63) sailor as Lt. Steven D. Hopkins. Hopkins was reported missing and assumed overboard on August 1, during what the navy described as routine operations in the South China Sea. USS Stethem was 140 miles of Subic
Sri Lanka Navy commissions offshore patrol vessel SLNS Sayurala
The Sri Lankan Navy commissioned SLNS Sayurala, the first of two offshore patrol vessel, in a ceremony at Colombo naval base on August 2. Sayurala was built by Indian shipbuilder Goa Shipyards Limited under a US$ 155 million contract and is the largest vessels the Sri Lanka has operated. The vessel
Second Royal Navy tanker starts voyage from South Korea to UK
RFA Tiderace, the second of four Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tide-class ships, has gotten underway from Okpo, South Korea starting her lengthy voyage to UK. Tiderace departed the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard and has sailed the Japanese Kanmon Strait, according to latest AIS d
US Navy searching for missing USS Stethem sailor in South China Sea
A U.S. Navy sailor from the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem went missing on Augist 1 during routine operations in the South China Sea and the search is still ongoing, the U.S. Navy said. Ships and aircraft from the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are taking part in search and re
Republic of Korea Navy receives second LST-II landing ship ‘Cheon Ja Bong’
The Republic of Korea Navy received its new landing ship on August 1, according to an announcement from the country’s arms procurement agency DAPA. The Hyundai Heavy Industries-built ship is named ‘Cheon Ja Bong’ and is the second of overall four LST ships to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Na
Mine warfare exercise 2JA concludes
Naval forces from the U.S. and Japan concluded ten days of mine countermeasure exercises on July 28. 2JA MCMEX is an annual bilateral exercise held between the U.S. and Japan and this year marked the 100th time that the U.S. and the Japanese have conducted bilateral mine countermeasures together, of
Chinese task group bound for Finland after Baltic Sea drills with Russia
After concluding their drills with the Russian Navy in the Baltic Sea, ships from the Chinese Navy’s task group are scheduled to visit Finland for a regularly scheduled port call. Three Chinese warships, Type 052D destroyer Hefei (DDG-174), Type 054A frigate Yuncheng (571) and Type 903 replenishment
RDEL launches two Indian Navy offshore patrol vessels
Indian shipbuilder Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited (RDEL) launched two offshore patrol vessels for the Indian Navy at its shipyard in Pipavav on July 25. Named Shachi and Shruti, the OPVs are the first two of overall five planned ships in the class. The primary role of the NOPVs will be to
Japan, US forces gear up for annual mine countermeasure drill 2JA
Warm-up exercises are already underway as Japanese and U.S. forces prepare for more complex scenarios of the annual 2JA mine countermeasure exercise (2JA MCMEX). The annual exercise, which officially began July 19, brings together Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and U.S. Navy surface and a
USS Milius (DDG 69) to forward-deploy to Japan after BMD upgrade
The ballistic missile defense (BMD)-capable guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) will be deploying to Japan once it completes testing and certification. The U.S. Navy announced the destroyer would become part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) based at Commander Fleet Activities Yok
US, India, Japan conclude major Bay of Bengal drill
Ships, submarines and aircraft from the U.S., India and Japan concluded their participation in the week-long Bay of Bengal exercise Malabar 2017 The exercise was designed to advance military-to-military coordination and capacity to plan and execute tactical operations in a multinational environment.
Chinese Navy task group heads for Baltic Sea and bilateral drills with Russian Navy
A Chinese Navy three-ship task group is sailing towards the Baltic Sea where it is set to take part in exercises with the Russian Navy. The bilateral drill, dubbed “Maritime Interaction 2017”, is scheduled to take place between July 21 and 28, and will involve an overall of 21 ships, according to a
China opposes US defense bill over Taiwan port visits option
China has urged the U.S. to abide by the One-China after the U.S. Congress passed a bill which could see the U.S. Navy reestablish port calls between the US and Taiwanese navies. The $696 billion defense policy bill, passed on Friday, allows the US Defense Secretary to look into the feasibility of a
Sri Lanka to commission first India-built OPV
The Sri Lankan Navy is to commission the first of two India-built offshore patrol vessels, SLNS Sayural, after it is delivered in a ceremony set for July 22. According to India’s Hindustan Times, the 105 meter long OPV is expected to be inducted into Sri Lanka Navy service on August 2. The two OPVs,