Naval News – Royal Navy divers searching for vessel’s jackstaff – December 2023

During Week 50 of this year a Royal Navy navigation warning  was issued after one of her vessels inadvertently lost the jackstaff and tripod overboard. The notification has been sent out to all all vessels operating just off North Corner Jetty (East) in HM Naval Base Portsmouth. They were being warned to “navigate with particular […]

Naval News – US Navy Seize 2,116 AK-47’s in the Gulf of Oman – 06.01.2023

On Tuesday 10 th January, 2023 the US Department of Defense confirmed that Vessels of the US Navy 5th Fleet operating in the Middle East have intercepted and seized a fishing vessel carrying over 2,000 AK-47 assault rifles destined for Houthi rebels in Yemen. The interception occurred in international waters in the Middle East on […]

Naval News – RFS ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV catches fire again – 22.12.2022

Russia’s Navy sole aircraft carrier RFS ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV 063 which is under maintenance period , caught fire again at the Zvezdochka repair plant at Murmank, Russia on Thursday 22nd December 2022 with around 20 souls evacuated and no casualties. The carrier started an overhaul and modernisation programme in 2017 to extend her service life by […]

Malta Naval Visits – RFS MB-304 – 23-28.10.2012

On Thursday 25th October, 2012 the Russian Navy Sorum Class (Project 745) Ocean Going Tug MB-304 entered Grand Harbour, Malta for the first time berthing at Boiler Wharf. She was built at the Yaroslav Zavod Shipyard as yard no 409 in 1973 and commissioned 29th July 1977 and was assigned to the Black Sea Fleet. […]

Malta Naval Visits – RFA ARGUS A 135 – 23-25.11.2022

On Wednesday 23rd November, 2022 the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Role 3 Casualty Treatment/Aviation Training Ship RFA ARGUS A 135 passed Grand Harbour, Malta breakwaters at 1026 hrs after embarking pilot at Marsaxlokk Harbour Pilot Station 2 Bravo due to heavy swell off Grand Harbour (OGH) during her maiden call. She was originally built as […]

Naval News – Russian Navy warships denied entry into the Black Sea – November 2022

Russian Pacific Fleet’s warships had been waiting for Turkey’s permission to cross the Bosporus into the Black Sea since early February, but Ankara never allowed them to enter. According to Andriy Klymenko, head of the Monitoring Group of the Institute of Strategic Studies of the Black Sea and editor-in-chief of the BlackSeaNews portal, the warships have been […]

Naval News – EUNAVFOR Operation Irini nets embargo buster – 18.07.2022

Last Monday 18th July the EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI found cargo in breach of the United Nations (UN) arms embargo on Libya on the ro/ro vessel VICTORY RORO after she was spotted by French Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). She has been on the radar for a while when she delivered military vehicles to the country […]

Russia-Ukraine War – Missile Hits on Naval Vessels – 17.06.2022

On Friday 17th June, 2022 the Ukrainian Forces hit the Russian naval tugboat RFS SPASATEL VASILIY BEKH SB-739 with two Harpoon missiles in the Black Sea the first time it has claimed to have struck a Russian vessel with Western supplied Harpoon Missiles.   The naval tug was transporting ammunition, weapons and personnel from the Black […]