Open Spirit 2016 participants were able to utilize their minehunting skills as they destroyed mines and other sea obstacles which posed a threat to Baltic Sea shipping lanes for decades. The international NATO maneuver which took place off Klaipeda, Lithuania concluded May 27. Minehunting units have
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic will conduct diver training for Caribbean partner nations from May 30 to June 18, 2016, as part of Canada’s participation in Exercise Tradewinds 16. Hosted by the Caribbean Military Maritime Training Centre and run in Discovery Bay, Jamaica,
Spanish Navy’s Santa María-class frigate ‘Numancia’ (F-83) returned to Rota Naval Base after a four-month deployment to Operation Sophia in the central Mediterranean Sea. During her EUNAVFOR MED deployment, the Numancia took part in six rescue operations saving the lives of more than 1,200 people. T
Royal Navy’s HMS Bulwark arrived alongside in Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands, to take part in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland. Fleet flagship HMS Bulwark will be supporting the Jutland 100 national commemorations at Kirkwall and at Lyness Cemetery wit
Commanders from three Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Combined Task Forces (CTFs) met this month to discuss maritime security. Commander CTF 151 (CCTF 151) Rear Admiral (Radm) Ken Cheong of the Republic of Singapore Navy met with CCTF 150 Commodore Guy Robinson of the Royal Navy, and CCTF 152, Colone
Sailors aboard the Italian Navy’s Horizon-class air-defence destroyer Andrea Doria launched their first MU90 torpedo in the Gulf of Taranto, May 24, 2016. During the exercise, a fictional sonar contact is included on the combat system management computer (CMS). Once the contact appears, the weapon s
The United States Committee on Appropriations has approved the FY2017 Defense Appropriations Bill which includes $1.0 billion in Navy shipbuilding funds to build the first USCG-operated icebreaker since FY1990. The United States currently relies on just one heavy vessel and one medium vessel, one of
The Mexican Navy has launched a new, Astimar-built, logistic support ship, the ARM Isla María Madre (BAL-11). The 53-meter ship will be used to transport people and goods to and from the Islas Marías Federal Penal Colony located in the Marías Islands archipelago. BAL-11 was launched May 27, 2016, at
Two U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyers, USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Momsen (DDG 92) conducted bilateral exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy in the waters around the Korean Peninsula, May 20-22 and 25. Over the course of several days, the two countries performed various evolutions, such as
French-based defense contractor Thales signed a CAD$35 million, (approx. US$26,8) contract with Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards (VSY), to deliver electronic systems for the construction of the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSV) under the National Shipbuilding
Russian shipyard Zelenodolsk plant named after AM Gorky has launched the fourth Gepard-3.9 frigate, the second ship of the second pair of orders built for the Vietnam Navy. The ceremony, held at the company’s shipyard in Republic of Tatarstan, Russia on May 26, was attended by the Navy Commissioner
U.S. Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy performed a medical evacuation to help a ROK Navy sailor in need of medical attention. The U.S. Navy ship on May 26 received orders from Commander Task Force (CTF) 73 to render medical assistance to a Republic of Korea Navy (ROK-N) submarine in the mid-pacific. M
A U.S. Navy sailor aboard USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) died Thursday, May 26, of a non-combat related injury while the ship was underway in the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea, Navcent, the Naval Forces Central Command informed. According to the U.S. Navy, the ship’s medical personnel responded to the sc
Ships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy 22nd Escort Task Group came alongside in Simon’s Town, South Africa for a formal visit from May 16-20, 2016. The visiting group was constituted by Luhu-class destroyer Qingdao, Jiangkai II-class frigate, Daqing and the Taihu replenishment ship, Taihu. The
