The Royal Netherlands Airforce’s newest helicopter, the NH-90, is on its way to Somalia on board HNLMS De Ruyter. It is the first overseas mission in which the maritime on-board helicopter will take part. Although in its current configuration it will not be able to carry out all mission tasks, the N
Following an attack in early January on a merchant vessel 260 miles off the Somali Coast, twelve men suspected of committing an act of piracy, were transferred on January 25 by EU Naval Force warship FS Surcouf to the Mauritian authorities for prosecution. When the attack happened on 5th January, th
Military and civilian maritime professionals finalized the training agenda for exercise Saharan Express 2013 (SE13) during the final planning conference at the Royal Moroccan Navy Headquarters in Casablanca, Jan. 21-23. Militaries from West Africa, Europe, and the United States joined together to pl
On Wednesday 16 January 2013 Rear Admiral Duncan Potts handed over operational command of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) to Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant. Rear Admiral Potts has commanded EU NAVFOR, the European Union’s counter piracy mission off Somalia, since August 2011. This period has wi
Sailors from HMS Northumberland spent a day helping to revamp a community centre in Tanzania during a break from anti-piracy patrols. Members of the Kigamboni showed their appreciation for the frigate’s efforts at the day’s end by performing a stunning acrobatic dance. During a break from anti-pirac
In the evening of 5th January, a merchant vessel sailing 260 miles off the Somali Coast, made a distress call, reporting that she was coming under attack by six men in a fast moving boat, armed with rocket propelled grenades. Thankfully, having employed avoidance tactics, the merchant vessel was abl
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Edinburgh has returned to sea following a two week mid-deployment period of maintenance in Simon’s Town, South Africa. The Portsmouth-based ship will now continue with her Atlantic patrol and her third crossing of the South Atlantic so far in this deployment. After two month
Three Chinese navy ships returning from counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden have docked at south Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, kicking off a five-day good-will visit on Monday, Chinese Ministry of Defence reports citing Xinhua. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships belonging to the 1
Just 12 days after EU Naval Force warship BNS Louise Marie apprehended five suspect pirates at sea off the Somali Coast, the Belgium frigate has once again located a suspect skiff – this time with three men on board. The warship, which is operating as part of the European Union’s counter-piracy miss
1. January US Navy to Deploy Third Carrier Group to Persian Gulf The US will dispatch another carrier strike group led by USS Enterprise to the Persian Gulf in March 2012, reported US Navy on Jan 25. The carrier group based in Norfolk, VA will also include a guided missile cruiser and three [&hell
A vessel’s crew hijacked almost three years ago by Somali pirates has been freed, says the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB). After 1000 days in captivity the 22 remaining crew of the MV Iceberg 1 were freed as a result of a two-week operation by the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) in Ga
Northern Fleet (NF) task unit consisting of destroyer Severomorsk, salvage tug Altai, and tanker Dubna left NF main base Severomorsk and set a course for… [mappress] Russian Navy, December 21, 2012; Image: Flot
The Spanish Navy OPV “Relámpago”, designed and built by Navantia, has arrived to South Africa and will be in Cape Town from 19th to 22nd. December. Due to this event, the visitors will have the opportunity to know the capabilities of the ship. Navantia is a potential candidate for the BIRO program,
Britain’s newest operational warship HMS Diamond traded places with HMS Monmouth as the latter relieved the Type 45 destroyer as the Royal Navy’s Gulf guardian. The two ships met up in the Gulf of Aden, where Diamond formally handed over responsibilities to the Black Duke before beginning the long r
