SNMCMG1 visits St Petersburg

Six NATO mine warfare vessels from Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 are visiting St Petersburg, Russia this weekend. Ships involved include:

• ORP Czernicki (Poland)
• EML Admiral Cowan (Estonia)
• FGS Dillingen (Germany)
• HMNoS Rauma (Norway)
• BNS Narcis (Belgium)
• HNLMS Makkum (Netherlands)

A formal visit to the Russian Baltic Fleet will be followed, of course, by a football tournament.

Корабли постоянной минно-тральной группы НАТО прибыли в Петербург

Как сообщили в ЗВО, в четверг в Петербург зашли четыре корабля – “X.X. Черницки” (Польша), “Адмирал Кован” (Эстония), “Диллинген” (Германия) и “Раума” (Норвегия). В субботу состав кораблей несколько изменится – в северную столицу войдут бельгийский “Нарцис” и нидерландский “Маккум”, они заменят корабли Норвегии и Германии.

© РИА Новости. Игорь Руссак

С.-ПЕТЕРБУРГ, 10 окт — РИА Новости. Корабли постоянной минно-тральной группы НАТО прибыли в Санкт-Петербург, в субботу их палубы будут открыты для посещения всех желающих, сообщает в четверг пресс-служба Западного военного округа (ЗВО).

“В 10.00 мск корабли НАТО ошвартовались у причалов набережной Лейтенанта Шмидта. По традиции рядом с иностранными боевыми кораблями занял место так называемый корабль-хозяин — однотипный с ними базовый тральщик Балтийского флота “БТ-212”, — говорится в сообщении.

Как пояснил представитель ЗВО, в четверг в порт Петербурга зашли четыре корабля — “X.X. Черницки” (Польша), “Адмирал Кован” (Эстония), “Диллинген” (Германия), и “Раума” (Норвегия). В субботу состав кораблей несколько изменится — в северную столицу войдут бельгийский “Нарцис” и нидерландский “Маккум”, они заменят корабли Норвегии и Германии. “Было принято решение о единовременном приходе в порт Петербурга четырех кораблей. В любом случае все они посетят Петербург”, — сказал собеседник агентства.

© РИА Новости. Игорь Руссак

В ходе неофициального визита в северную столицу России, командиры кораблей совершат протокольный визит к командиру Ленинградской военно-морской базы Балтийского флота, который примет иностранных командиров на борту корабля №1 ВМФ РФ крейсере “Аврора”. Также в программе пребывания возложение экипажами зарубежных кораблей венков и цветов на мемориальном Пискаревском кладбище.

“Кроме того, военным морякам предстоит принять участие в “спортивной баталии”. 11 октября между сборной ВМС НАТО и сборной Балтийского флота состоится товарищеский футбольный матч”, — уточняет ЗВО.

За последние годы это первый визит постоянной минно-тральной группы НАТО в Петербург. Ранее моряки минно-тральной группы НАТО становилось гостями моряков-балтийцев в столице Балтийского флота — Калининграде. Визит кораблей НАТО в Санкт-Петербург завершится 14 октября.

http://ria.ru/spb/20131010/968989046.html

Kursk: A Submarine in Troubled Waters (2004)

Turkish Navy eyes Navantia’s F100 class frigates

Spain’s Navantia-built F100-class frigate is the base platform for the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate and the Australian Hobart-class destroyer.

Now it seems the Turkish Navy is interested… which would be in addition to its existing plans for 6 new TF2000-class frigates and 12 new Milgem-class corvettes.

Navantia’s F-100 Class Frigate Sparks Turkish Interest

Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia and the Spanish Navy have displayed the capabilities of the shipbuilding company as a designer and builder of the technologically advanced F-100 class frigates in Istanbul. The F-103 frigate “Blas de Lezo” arrived in the Turkish city on the 25th of July 2013.

The F-103 is leading the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2) from June to October 2013. Members of both the Turkish Under Secretariat for Defense Industry (SSM) and the Turkish Army showed their interest in the F-100 frigates during the technical visit they had previously realized.

The admiral leading the SNMG-2, Eugenio Díaz del Río, welcomed the Turkish delegation headed by the Head of Naval Platforms of SSM, Mustafa Seker. The Spanish Defense Attaché Colonel Julián de Pablo, the Commercial Vice President of Navantia Gonzalo Mateo, the Turkish Branch Office of Navantia General Manager Jorge García Monedero and some representatives from Lockheed Martin were also present during the visit.

The five F-100 class frigates built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy are multipurpose ships equipped with the AEGIS combat system. The F-100 class frigates are capable to lead and operate a multinational maritime force as it is the SNMG-2. This operative is formed by ships of several NATO member countries and it participates in the Ocean Shield operations against piracy in the Indian Ocean and the Active Endeavour operation against terrorism in the Mediterranean.

”We would like to thank the Spanish Navy and specially the crew of the F-103 frigate the extraordinary collaboration offered during the visit”, Navantia said in a release.

http://shipbuildingtribune.com/2013/08/01/navantias-f-100-class-frigate-sparks-turkish-interest/

Major icebreakers of the world

Only the “majors.” Smaller vessels (less than 10,000 HP), such as the Royal Navy’s HMS Protector, and “ice-strengthened” vessels such as the British Antarctic Survey’s RRS Ernest Shackleton, are not included.

U.S. Coast Guard’s 2013 Reivew of Major Ice Breakers of the World

The Coast Guard Office of Waterways and Ocean Policy (CG-WWM) began producing the chart of major icebreakers of the world in July 2010. Since then, we have gathered icebreaker information and recommendations from a variety of sources and experts, including icebreaker subject-matter experts, internet posts, news updates, Arctic experts and Coast Guard offices with icebreaker equities. We validate our information within the public forum and update the chart at least semi-annually based on new information and feedback. This chart represents the Coast Guard’s current factual understanding of the major icebreaker fleet. This chart is not intended for icebreaker fleet comparisons and no inference should be drawn regarding a country’s icebreaker “ranking” against another.

The following is the July 18, 2013 review by the U.S. Coast Guard of Major Icebreakers of the World.

Scope. Vessels meeting the general definition of a polar icebreaker per the 2007 National Research Council report on Polar Icebreakers in a Changing World are included. These vessels “have sailed in significant sea ice in either the Arctic or the Antarctic,” have “ice strengthening sufficient for polar ice” and possess “installed power of at least 10,000 horsepower.” Minimally ice-strengthened ships (enough to survive in ice, rather than operate in it) and icebreakers of less than 10,000 horsepower are not included. With the exception of the Baltic icebreakers, this chart does not indicate where their owners may actually operate them. In addition, the chart does not specify whether a vessel’s crew is civilian or military.

Classification Methodology: The chart organizes the icebreakers first by country, then by installed power category, and finally in order of placement in service, youngest to oldest. The chart colors icebreakers by their relative capability estimated using brake horsepower as the most common basis. The most capable icebreakers are black, the next level sea-green and the lightest icebreakers are blue. Icebreakers in construction are colored yellow, and planned icebreakers are white. Planned icebreakers are placed on the chart if we can reliably state they are funded. The chart identifies government-owned or -operated icebreakers with the country’s flag next to the icebreaker. Nuclear-powered icebreakers are marked with an N. Baltic icebreakers designed to operate solely in seasonal, first-year Baltic Sea ice but meeting the ice-strengthening and horsepower criteria are marked on the chart with a B. Most Baltic icebreakers may not have operated in the Arctic due to concerns with open-ocean sea-keeping ability for open water transits.

Fleet numbers and Icebreaker Size in Context. The fleet numbers and icebreaker size tend to align along each county’s economic necessity for icebreaker resources. For example, the economies of Finland, Russia and Sweden have greater dependence on major icebreakers to pursue economic goals in the Arctic and Baltic winters than the economies of other nations. Also, ice in these countries’ shipping lanes, rivers and ports forms earlier, lasts longer, and requires more power to break, requiring more extensive icebreaking capabilities. Similarly, the Canadian icebreaker fleet supports summer access and supply to Canada’s Arctic communities. In contrast, in addition to the polar icebreakers already listed, the U.S has a number of icebreakers operating in the Great Lakes, New England and the mid-Atlantic to facilitate commerce and for exigent circumstances, but these are not listed in this chart because the icebreakers are not required to meet the threshold of at least 10,000 BHP.

An undated photo of USCGC Healy (WAGB – 20). US Coast Guard Photo

http://news.usni.org/2013/07/23/u-s-coast-guards-2013-reivew-of-major-ice-breakers-of-the-world

Norwegian frigate takes over as flasghip of Operation Ocean Shield

The Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HMNoS Fridtjof Nansen has joined Operation Ocean Shield, NATO’s counter piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa.

The Nansen is the lead ship in her class of 5 multi-role frigates, built for the Sjøforsvaret by Navantia in Ferrol, Spain. The Nansen-class replaced the old (1960s built) Oslo-class frigates and are equipped with the Aegis combat system. For counter piracy operations, the frigates are equipped with 2 RIBs and a detachment of Kystjegerkommandoen naval infantry.

Norwegian frigate leads anti-pirate operation

HMNoS Fridtjof Nansen

The Norwegian frigate “Fridtjof Nansen” is the flag ship and command center for the NATO-led anti-pirate operation Ocean Shield in the Bay of Aden and off the Horn of Africa, over the next six months.The NATO force numbers altogether 700 men, and 170 of these are stationed on the Norwegian frigate.

In addition to the Norwegian contingent, there are also personnel from Denmark, the Netherlands, the Ukraine and USA.

Ocean Shield is an operation set up to combat the threat of piracy in the Bay of Aden and the Indian ocean, an area the size of Western Europe.

Even though 850 seamen were exposed to attacks from Somalia-based pirates in 2012, it was a reduction by nearly 80 per cent from the year before, when nearly 3900 sailors came under attack, the newspaper Vårt Land reports.

Today, aropund 600 seamen are held hostage by Somali pirates.

http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/news/latest-news/28698-norwegian-frigate-leads-anti-pirate-operation

Kystjegerkommandoen

Daewoo Shipbuilding wins $230m contract from Norwegian Defence Logistics Organization

More good times for South Korean shipyards. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has picked up a $230m contract from the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organization for a new logistics and support vessel. This comes on the heels of a $565m order from Atwood Oceanics for a new oil exploration vessel and a $1.4bn contract from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary for four new replenishment tankers.

Daewoo Shipbuilding bags US$230 mln deal from Norway

Daewoo Shipbuilding bags US$230 mln deal from Norway

SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) — Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. of South Korea said Sunday that it has clinched a US$230 million deal from Norway.

Under the deal with the Norwegian Defense Logistics Organization (NDLO), Daewoo Shipbuilding will deliver the logistics and support vessel by September 2016, the company said.

In March this year, Daewoo Shipbuilding also won a 1.6 trillion won ($1.4 billion) contract to build four fleet tankers for Britain’s Royal Navy.

The company has deals valued at $5 billion to build 15 ships so far this year and has raised its order target by 18 percent to $13 billion for 2013.