Royal Navy’s Gibraltar-based fast patrol boat HMS Scimitar was forced to respond to a Spanish warship incursion into Gibraltar waters for the second time in a month. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that Spanish Navy corvette Infanta Cristina was escorted out of Gibraltar waters on Thursday morn
Canada has concluded a five-month period of commanding the Bahrain-headquartered Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) and handed over duties to France. This was Canada’s third command of the multinational maritime security and counter-terrorism task force located in the greater Middle East region. The
U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) returned to the fleet on April 7 after completing a maintenance period that will allow her to complete her remaining scheduled deployments before being retired. The submarine started her pre-inactivation restricted availability (PIRA)
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded BAE Systems Land & Armaments a $40 million contract ordering more Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS) canisters for its guided missile cruisers and destroyers. The contract modification also includes orders for ally navy platforms. Mk 41 VLS is used to l
The Royal Australian Navy is preparing its apprentices for the operation of new Hobart-class air warfare destroyers by having them work directly with industry in Adelaide, building on their initial trade training. The Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance shipyard has provided a hand-on training environmen
The U.S. Navy wants to increase the anti-air warfare capabilities of the future frigate and is looking at having more than the current two hull designs for consideration, according to several media reports. The new plans would break away from previous ones that included simply up-gunning and up-sizi
Reducing the service life of major Royal Australian Navy ships from 30 to 20 years could prove beneficial both for the navy and the Australian shipbuilding industry, a study carried out by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) suggests. The study was done in light of current Australian Na
The U.S. Navy is joining forces with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to refit and modernize up to five of the Yard Patrol (YP) 676 class training craft. Work will be performed at the USCG Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, and will allow the midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) to continue training onb
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair a $19.4 million contract to perform post shakedown availability (PSA) work on the U.S. Navy’s two new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. The contract will see BAE Systems perform maintenance and eventual rep
U.S. Navy’s Maritime Prepositioning Force ships USNS Pililaau (T-AK 304) and USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008) recently tested their skills in deploying the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS), a floating pier-like causeway system. The INLS is a sea state three (SS3) capable system comprised
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned its newest fast response cutter John McCormick during an April 12 ceremony at the Alaskan Ketchikan Base. Built under the Coast Guard’s Sentinel-class FRC program, the CGC John McCormick is the first of six fast response cutters that will homeport in Alaska and the
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced on April 12 that it has signed a heads of terms agreement with France for the acquisition of STX France. The French state was represented by the Agence des Participations de l’Etat (APE), Fincantieri said. STX France is owned by South Korean STX Offshore and
The U.S. Navy’s Sterett-Dewey surface action group (Sterett-Dewey SAG) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 11, for the first stop of the group’s Western Pacific deployment. The group is composed of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105) who
German Navy tanker ‘Spessart’ had to be towed home from UK waters after experiencing problems with its engine during the Joint Warrior drill off Scotland. The 40-year-old ship broke down on March 27 and the extent of damage is yet to be determined, German Kieler Nachrichten reported. Spessart withdr
