Vessels
US, Iraq, Pakistan conduct VBSS drills in Bahrain
Iraqi and Pakistani naval officers joined the U.S. Coast Guard for a multilateral visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercise at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Feb. 26-Mar. 9. The exercise, held at the ship-in-the-box (SIB) facility, is the first time in three years that the Iraqi and Pakistan
Two Royal Navy Merlins join French Navy’s Jeanne d’Arc deployment
Two Royal Navy Merlins have embarked French amphibious assault ship FS Mistral, the lead ship of French Navy task group, for the French annual Jeanne d’Arc deployment. The five-month amphibious deployment will take the force – which includes the frigate Courbet – as far east as Japan and Guam, as fa
Irish Navy lays keel for fourth Samuel Beckett-class OPV
The keel for the Irish Navy’s fourth Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel was laid in Babcock’s Appledore shipyard on February 28. Named after Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, the vessel will have pennant number P64. It is being built under a contract signed between the Irish ministry of
Austrian Jagdkommandos to embark German tender for EU mission Sophia
Austrian Jagdkommandos, an Austrian Armed Forces’ Special Operations group, will embark German Navy tender ‘Main’ on March 2 to support EU’s counter-smuggling mission in the Mediterranean Sea. An official send-off ceremony for the Jagdkommandos took place in the Roßauer barracks in Vienna on Februar
German, Swedish Navy corvettes begin drills in Baltic Sea
German Navy’s K130 corvette Ludwigshafen am Rhein left her homeport of Warnemünde on February 28 to join her Swedish Navy counterpart for Baltic Sea drills. The Royal Swedish Navy is represented by the Visby-class corvette HMS Härnösand. Sweden is not a NATO member but regularly takes part in exerci
Canada contracts Seaspan for final JSS design
The Canadian government awarded Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards a $230 million contract for design work on the Royal Canadian Navy’s Joint Support Ship (JSS). Announced on February 28 by ministers of defense and public services and procurement, the contract will see the company develop and finalize th
Spanish frigate joins SNMG1
Spanish Navy frigate Reina Sofía (F-84) departed naval base Rota on February 27 to integrate into the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1). During the two and a half-month mission, the Spanish frigate will participate in several training activities with other NATO units, among them exercise Join
US Navy, Coast Guard conclude joint Pacific patrol
The U.S. Navy hosted Coast Guard personnel for an 18-day joint mission in the Central and South Pacific to combat transnational crimes, enforce fisheries laws and enhance regional security. Under the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative, Coast Guard law enforcement detachment 103 from Pacific Tactic
US Navy decommissions Los Angeles-class submarine USS Albuquerque
After 33 years of service with the U.S. Navy, Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) was decommissioned during a ceremony held at Keyport Undersea Museum on February 27. Albuquerque arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) for inactivation and decommissioning Oct. 28,
Spanish frigate and oiler join NATO’s SNMG2
A Spanish Navy frigate and an auxiliary oiler left their home port in Ferrol, Spain, last weekend to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in the Mediterranean Sea. Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Méndez Núñez and oiler AOR Patiño will become part of SNMG2’s Task Unit 02 (TU.02), currently under com
US Navy needs more time to figure out how to recycle USS Enterprise
The U.S. Navy has decided to recall an August 2016 Request for Proposal for the commercial recycling of the non-nuclear portions of ex-USS Enterprise (CVN 65), noting that it needs more time to evaluate the best way to recycle the ship. The navy said it requires more information to determine the app
Rolls-Royce bags US Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter contract
Rolls-Royce will be providing propulsion gear for the U.S. Coast Guard’s new offshore patrol cutters, the company announced on February 28. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, the prime contractor on the program, selected Rolls-Royce equipment for the USCG OPC fleet’s first nine vessels, with an option to a
US Coast Guard makes largest cocaine bust in Atlantic since 1999
The U.S. Coast Guard said it offloaded approximately 4.2 tons of seized cocaine, worth an estimated $125 million at Coast Guard Sector San Juan on Monday. This interdiction is the largest maritime seizure in the Atlantic since 1999 and was the result of ongoing, multi-agency and international law en
New Royal Navy submarine investment a boost for Scotland economy
The UK Government, Royal Navy and Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership signed an agreement on February 27 that is expected to bring in more financial opportunities for the locals. Millions of pounds of investment in developing HM Naval Base Clyde as the Royal Navy Submarine Centre of Speci