NAVY NEWS WEEK 29-3

18 July 2017

Piracy rises in Nigeria amid drop in regional malaise in Piracy and Security News 13/07/2017

This comes as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), approved a revised implementation scheme for ships relating to the Ballast Water Management Convention, allowing for a two-year delay of compliance for existing ships. The rate of maritime piracy has assumed a downward trend on the Gulf of Guinea recording the lowest levels in five years.However, it is not fully cheery news for Nigeria, as recent report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) rated the incidence higher in the country during the first half (H1) of the year. This comes as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), approved a revised implementation scheme for ships relating to the Ballast Water Management Convention, allowing for a two-year delay of compliance for existing ships. Reduction in the spate of piracy would ensure smooth and safe movement of cargo across countries, boost international trade, and increase the contribution of the blue economy to national growth. Reporting 87 piracy incidents across board during the period, IMB said: ―Pirates in Nigeria continued to dominate when it comes to reports of kidnappings. So far, this year they have been responsible for the abduction of 31 crew members in five reported incidents. The numbers include 14 crew members taken from two separate vessels in the second quarter of the year. Violence against crews continues with half of all reports of vessels being fired upon coming from Nigeria.‖ But the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, had earlier declared that pirate attacks in the coast of Nigeria had reduced significantly, claiming that only four successful attacks were recorded out of 16 of such attempted attacks during the period. He said: ―The combination of infrastructure development programmes, engagements with local communities, sustenance of the Amnesty Programme for repentant ex-militants, and improved maritime policing activities have proved effective in stemming the tide of insecurity around the coast of Nigeria.‖ According to the report, the H1 2017 saw a total of 87 incidents reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, compared with 97 for the same period last year, indicating continuing decline in the number of reported incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships. Recording some of the lowest figures seen in the last five-year period, the latest piracy report showed that in the first six- months of 2017, 63 vessels were boarded, 12 fired upon, four were hijacked, and attacks were attempted on another eight vessels. ―A total of 63 crew have been taken hostage so far, this year while 41 have been kidnapped from their vessels, three injured and two killed,‖ it stated.However, the report noted that Somali pirates have remained a threat to merchant ships, with IMB noting that the encouraging downward trend was however marred by the hijacking of a small Thai product tanker en route from Singapore to Songkhla, Thailand. Under the new Ballast Water Management Convention scheme, ships constructed before the Convention’s became effective on September 8, will be allowed a two-year delay of compliance depending on their MARPOL IOPP renewal survey schedule.The review means that if the survey is not completed, then compliance with the D-2 standard is required at the second renewal survey after September 8. For existing ships, which are not subject to the MARPOL IOPP renewal survey, compliance with the D-2 standard is required as of September 8, 2024, while ships constructed after September 8, 2017 are obliged to comply with the Convention once delivered from the yard. Source: The Guardian via http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) publishes its second quarter report on piracy and armed robbery for 2017 in Marine Insurance P&I Club News,Piracy and Security News 14/07/2017

The IMB has published its report on piracy and armed robbery for the second quarter of 2017, covering the period from 1 January to 30 June 2017. The report highlights continuing decline in the number of incidents of maritime piracy. 87 incidents have been reported in the first six months of 2017, with 63 ships boarded, eight attempted attacks, four ships hijacked and 12 ships fired upon. This represents a decrease from 2016 when there were 97 reported incidents in the same period. In relation to crew, the IMB reports that 63 crew members were taken hostage, three injured, two killed and 41 kidnapped. The majority of the 87 reported incidents occurred in the following four countries:

Southeast Asia/Indonesia The IMB reports a decline in the number of reported incidents in and around the Philippines with four cases for the second quarter compared to nine in the first. This reduction is attributed to the cooperation between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Gulf of Guinea/Nigeria Nigeria accounts for 13 incidents down from 24 for the same period in 2016. Nigeria remains a kidnap hotspot with 31 crewmembers taken in two separate incidents. Violence against crewmembers continues with Nigeria accounting for half of the ships fired upon worldwide. The IMB urges ship masters to report all incidents so that the true level of piracy activity can be assessed. Gulf of Aden/Somalia Seven incidents have been reported off Somalia in 2017, including three ships being hijacked. This indicates that Somali pirates still have the capability and capacity to carry out attacks. The IMB urges ship masters to maintain high levels of vigilance when transiting the high-risk area and adhere to the Best Management Practices (version 4). Attack by ship-type The main ship-types affected are as follows:

Source: http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com

BIMCO-SAPU Roadshows Provided Critical Information to Avoid Piracy Incidents in Piracy and Security News 15/07/2017

This year’s BIMCO – SAPU Roadshows’ clearly presented the good that can come out when able and willing industry professionals meet, exchange ideas and share viewpoints on the critical matters that tantalize Maritime Security. • The Somali Piracy come-back that emerged from the combination of relaxed security measures on board merchant shipping and looser Navy presence was the first issue to be analysed. • How the Nigerian Piracy model evolved through time from oil siphoning to Kidnap & Ransom was presented along with what the industry can do about it. • Maritime Terrorism in Yemen and the Sulu/Celebes Seas was discussed using examples of some very interesting video footage regarding this new severe maritime threat. • Cyber Security was explained and thoroughly discussed. • Illegal firearms and dangerous guards were yet again a key issue to analyse and some very interesting proposals were presented that shaped the future of Maritime Security. Shipping should expect changes in the near future. These changes will dictate a new brighter Maritime Security industry gradually free from the menace of pirate security companies and dangerous – untrained/uncertified guards. Major Registries, ship – owners, insurers, port authorities and floating armouries have expressed their clear interest in a new database solution, originally proposed in the 2016 Piraeus Roadshow, where registered parties (CSOs’ Registries, port authorities, floating armouries, etc) can check the legality of ownership of the firearms of the PMSCs’ with just one click. Guard swapping that goes side by side with illegal weapons exchange was analysed too and some innovative proposals were laid on the table, now subject to serious consideration from industry experts. The industry congratulated and welcomed BIMCO’s new Chief of Maritime Security, Mr. Philip Tinsley, who following the tragic loss of Mr. Giles Noakes, has already contributed to the Maritime Security industry greatly, just a few days in at his new seat. From where LSS-SAPU stands it was Giles and Phil who helped start this journey to legality, regulation and fair play thus congratulations are in order. This ship has sailed and covered a great distance ever since and now with Phil helping navigate it is clearly heading towards the right direction. Last but not least, we would like to express our gratitude to all who made it and to our sponsors for helping aid this endeavour. Most sincere thanks to the Department of Merchant Shipping of Cyprus that has essentially handed over the solution to illegal firearms exchange by pioneering a solution years ago that can apply to all shipping with just a few adjustments. Last year we promised the effort will not falter and will actually be enhanced. Ever since a lot has changed in the industry, most to the better. In the near future and all going well we expect regulation and fair play will prevail. Pirate security companies will not survive leaving us with time and space to cope with the real Pirates, Maritime Terrorism and Cyber Security, which nowadays constitute major threats to global shipping. Source: LSS-SAPU via http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia (July 12, 2017) Seaman Tanoria Thomas, from Shreveport, La., signals amphibious assault vehicles attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to deploy from the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) for a beach raid training exercise during Talisman Saber 17. Ashland, part of a combined U.S.-Australia-New Zealand expeditionary strike group, is undergoing a series of scenarios that will increase naval proficiencies in operating against blue-water adversarial threats and in its primary mission of launching Marine forces ashore in the littorals. Talisman Saber is a biennial U.S.- Australia bilateral exercise held off the coast of Australia meant to achieve interoperability and strengthen the U.S.-Australia alliance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Clay/Released)

US-Australia Naval Drill TS17 is Underway Posted by Aiswarya Lakshmi July 12, 2017

(Front to Back) HMA Ships Bathurst and Ballarat conduct Officer of the Watch manoeuvres with USS John S. McCain during Exercise Talisman Saber 17 Field Training Exercise - North. Photo: Royal Australian Navy.

The Royal Australian and United States navies have proven a potent and agile force when operating together during the opening phases of Exercise TALISMAN SABER 17, which took place in the Northern Territory. HMA Ships Ballarat, Melbourne, Broome and Bathurst conducted four days of high-end warfare exercises with USS John S. McCain off the coast of Darwin, proving their ability to detect, track and engage surface, submarine, and air targets. Advanced air warfare serials were supported by the Royal Australian Air Force’s Classic and Super Hornets and the US Marine Corps’ F/A-18s. The warships conducted a wide range of training exercises including Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres, Replenishment at Sea Approaches and simulating the protection of major fleet units against a hostile force, against the smaller Navy vessels in the approaches to Darwin Harbour. Ballarat Operations Officer Lieutenant Mitchell Tavener said the exercise had gone extremely well. ―We are very familiar with working with the US and their ships and this helped us meet our objectives,‖ Lieutenant Tavener said. ―We are well rehearsed in operating in Australia‘s northern approaches and HMAS Ballarat‘s performance was as expected – always to a high standard and always meeting command aims.―USS John S. McCain also showed herself to be a very professional and highly capable ship.‖ Lieutenant Tavener said the Armidale-class patrol boats Broome and Bathurst had been a valuable addition to the exercise. ―Having the patrol boats stand in as our enemy force brought a high level of complexity to our planning and execution," he said. ―They force us to step up our operations and prove a capability we can‘t achieve in any other way.‖ The four days in the Northern Territory began the maritime component of Exercise TALISMAN SABER 17, the largest combined military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defence Force. The ships will now move to the Queensland coast to take part in the main effort of TALISMAN SABER. The main part of the exercise will include 15 warships including the Amphibious Assault Ship HMAS Canberra, numerous aircraft and clearance diving teams, including an Expeditionary Warfare Strike Group. Source: https://www.marinelink.com Danes Tout $340M Stanflex Frigate For US Navy – But What’s Real Cost? By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. on July 13, 2017

The US Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson (center), tours the Danish ―Stanflex‖ frigate Peter Willemoes. Denmark wants the US to consider buying the design.

WASHINGTON: Denmark really wants you to know they have a solution for the US Navy’s frigate problem. Pentagon officials are on the record that they’ll consider foreign designs in their quest for a more powerful small warship than the $450–$550 million, 3,400-ton Littoral Combat Ship. The Danish answer: their $340 million, 6,600-ton Iver Huitfeldt ―Stanflex‖ frigate. That’s a lot of ship for the price. But a leading US expert, Bryan Clark, tells us that the Danes may be undercounting their costs by about $50 million, since some of the frigates’ weaponry was recycled from older ships going out of service — an economy made possible by the Danish navy’s Stanflex system of interchangeable equipment modules. That would put the frigate at under $400 million, which is still pretty good compared to LCS or international competitors. The thing is, Clark argued, the costs to the US would be much higher once the design was upgraded to US Navy standards, fitted with US weapons and electronics, and built in less efficient US yards.

The Danish ―Stanflex‖ frigate Peter Willemoes during a joint deployment with the US Navy.

With a new radar and other upgrades, ―the ship would likely cost around $700-900 million, which would be similar to the (Franco-Italian) FREMM, an upgraded LCS, and the (Spanish) F-105,‖ said Bryan Clark, a former top aide to the Chief of Naval Operations. ―It would probably be a little higher than (an upgrade of the Coast Guard) National Security Cutter.‖ The two US and two European designs Clark listed are the ones I wrote up in May as the four top contenders for the frigate contract. I barely mentioned the Iver Huitfeldt in that story because no one could name a US shipyard interested in working with the Danes on the design, while the FREMM and F-100/F-105 series had clear potential partners. After that story appeared, however, the Danish embassy reached out to me to argue they are very much in the running. Odense Maritime Technology (OMT) owns the design, said Rear Adm. Niels Olsen, the Danish defense attache here, and ―they have already been in contact with Ingalls and Bath‖ — the two US shipyards that build destroyers. ―And they have been in dialogue with Lockheed,‖ added Olsen’s assistant attache, Lt. Col. Per Lyse Rasmussen. Lockheed builds the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship with Wisconsin shipyard Marinette Marine, which is owned by Italian defense firm Fincantieri — which incidentally builds one of competing frigates, the FREMM. Rasmussen said, ―Lockheed Martin seems interested, Fincantieri maybe not so much.‖ The Danish Navy also took the opportunity to show off the ship when the second frigate in the class, Peter Willemoes, visited the US in November. The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry, toured the ship, as did the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson. Olsen noted proudly that both men were ―very impressed.‖ There were also visiting representatives from the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), which oversees all naval shipbuilding, who ―took many, many notes.‖ Overall, Olsen said, ―we had several US admirals on board, and many of them have since followed up with questions.‖ ―We don‘t expect you to buy ships and build them in Denmark or anything, but you should at least look at the design and see smart, smart stuff‖ that’s worth copying for future US ships, Olsen said. ―You‘re also welcome to buy the design,‖ he added with a chuckle. What’s in a Frigate? The Iver Huitfeldt frigates are built for ―hard warfighting,‖ Rear Adm. Olsen said. Equipped to combat hostile ships, aircraft, and submarines, he said, ―they’re able to fight in all three dimensions simultaneously.‖ With numerous watertight compartments, kevlar linings, and shock-proof mountings for all key equipment, he went on, ―they can take a hit and they can keep on fighting.‖ In fact, one of the frigates recently passed the Royal Navy’s Flag Officers’ Sea Training (FOST) program with distinction, which includes a notoriously tough six-week wargame with intensive damage-control exercises. Olsen was too polite to say so, but survivability and damage control have been consistent concerns about the Littoral Combat Ship. LCS is automatically disadvantaged as a small ship with less metal to take a hit and fewer sailors to do damage control. What’s more, LCS is made at least partially of aluminum, which has a nasty tendency to catch fire if hit by missiles: The Lockheed/Marinette Freedom class has an aluminum superstructure, while the Austal Independence variant has an all-aluminum hull. The Iver Huitfeldt frigates are all steel.

A Vertical Launch System (VLS) fires a missile.

Offensively, the Danish frigates hit much harder than LCS as well. The Iver Huitfeldt mounts a pair 3″ (76 mm) deck gun — considerably heavier than the single 57-mm gun on LCS — with space and structural support to upgrade one weapon to a standard US Navy 5-incher. They have 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, similar to the Over The Horizon (OTH) missile that will be added to the LCS. And, unlike LCS, they have full-size Vertical Launch System (VLS) silos that can launch a variety of anti-aircraft and missile defense weapons — or, if the Danish government were to buy them, offensive missiles such as the Tomahawk. It’s how much the Danish government pays for this firepower that generates debate. A 2015 article on the CIMSEC naval affairs blog called the Iver Huitfeldt class a ―Danish strawman‖ that had been delivered without key equipment, but Olsen told me that was done merely to get sea trials started ASAP, and the ship is now fully armed and operational. Fully equipped, an Iver Huitfeldt frigate costs the equivalent of $340 million, Rear Adm. Olsen said. Most of that, about $207 million, goes to weapons, sensors, and other electronics, which drive the cost of modern warships worldwide. The hull, engines, and other mechanical systems (HME) only cost about $133 million — although Olsen acknowledges it would probably cost more in a US shipyard than it did in Maersk’s Odense shipyard, which has since been closed in any case. Central to the cost-efficiency is the Stanflex system of modular weapons and sensor packages. Pioneered on Danish patrol craft in the 1990s, Stanflex ironically inspired the ―mission modules‖ on the US Littoral Combat Ships. While the LCS modules are now behind schedule and as controversial as anything else in the program, the US Navy is still intrigued by how modularity can ease both initial construction — the Iver Huitfeldt frigates were built in Maersk’s low-overhead commercial shipyard, their weapons added later — and subsequent upgrades — which can be as simple as swapping in more modern modules. ―We separated the platform and the payload,‖ Rear Adm. Olsen said. He likened the Stanflex ships’ ability to swap modules with a smartphone’s ability to download new apps: In both cases, you don’t need to anticipate all your needs and hardwire them into the platform, you just need a standard interface into which a wide variety of options can plug. That eases maintenance, mission changes, and updates with new technology. The frigate is built to military standards for damage control, Olsen emphasized, but it uses civilian systems to save cost wherever their performance is acceptable. ―In fact, a lot of civilian stuff is pretty good,‖ he said. ―They can in some cases withstand a lot more punishment than some military stuff.‖ Bryan Clark was unconvinced. ―The Iver Huitfeldt uses mostly commercial components that may not be rated for the run time‖ — the sheer wear and tear of long deployments — ―and potential effects of (battle) damage that US ships are expected to experience,‖ he told me. ―US Navy ships have a much higher OPTEMPO (operational tempo) than foreign ships, are expected to operate in a higher threat environment, and are expected to return to service after a casualty (accident or battle damage) and repairs.‖ ―A ship built to U.S. military standards will have more hull stiffeners, more compartments, redundant wiring and cabling, etc. – all of which add man-hours to ship construction times,‖ Clark said. All told, he said, ―I‘m confident that a ship built to some version of US military standards will be more expensive.‖ Even if the original design is good, said naval historian Norman Polmar, the US Navy and Congress will want to replace contless foreign components with ones made in the USA. ―Steel for hulls is the cheapest part of the ship; it‘s the electronics, the weapons, and the machinery that cost,‖ he said, and that’s what the Navy would change. Polmar likes the Iver Huitfeldt class — ―It‘s an excellent design‖ — but he says the US Navy hasn’t bought a foreign warship design since World War II. With the protectionist Donald Trump in office, he added, we’re not going to start now. That’s a challenge that the Danes — and the French, Italians, and Spaniards — aim to overcome. Source: http://breakingdefense.com I do not think that there is any chance that the US Navy will buy an overseas built frigate, even if they are better.

Navy seeks design for new frigate Fleet would an upgrade from LCS in technology and design EMMA KUHN, EH staff writer Thursday, July 13, 2017 12:00 AM MARINETTE — The U.S. Navy released a Request for Information (RFI) on Monday which could have ramifications close to home. The Navy’s solicitation from the shipbuilding industry this week called for designs of a new frigate ship, tentatively called FFG(X), or Fast Frigate, Guided (Experimental). The FFG(X) would fill the Small Surface Combatant category, which the Navy has aimed to increase to 52 ships. The bulk of the Small Surface Combatant fleet will be Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), currently being built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette and Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. The RFI for the new frigates calls for a ship of similar size to the LCS, but with several differences and upgrades in technology and design. The Navy said it is looking for a ship with combat and mechanical systems that can integrate with a carrier strike group or operate independently, hunt submarines and kill ships over the horizon. It is opening the floor up for existing designs and adaptations from them, in order to see faster results. According to an article in Popular Mechanics, the RFI reflects ―widespread dissatisfaction with the troubled, frigate-sized Littoral Combat Ships.‖ ―The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fell victim to a combination of technological overreach and a changing geopolitical environment that made the ships minimally capable, unreliable, and obsolete in a world of variable global threats,‖ reads the article by Kyle Mizokami. ―In its place, the Navy wants a more traditional guided-missile frigate design capable of tackling larger, more complex roles.‖ Mizokami’s statement certainly reflects the views of some in Congress about the LCS program, most notably Sen. John McCain (R- Ariz.) who famously said the ships were ―an unfortunate and classic example‖ of defense acquisition gone wrong. High- profile breakdowns of LCS have given some a tainted view of the program, and the growing size of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, China’s naval force, as well as aggressive relations with Russia, have brought a critical eye to the LCS program and its shortcomings. Still, the transition from LCS to a frigate design has been in the works for several years, and Austal USA and Lockheed Martin, Marinette Marine’s partner in the LCS program, have been working on their designs for submittal since at least December, when it was reported in a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting by Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Sean Stackley. The Navy’s hope is to award the contract for the first FFG(X) in 2020, with one ordered in 2020 and another in 2021, followed by two per year beyond that. Source: http://ehextra.com It is always problematic to build one ship in order to do a varirty of diverging tasks. It is surprising the US Navy went this route, and then exacerbated it by building two different designs. Unfortunately ships do not really lend themselves to be used in diverging roles, as history has proven time and time again.

ODESSA, Ukraine (July 13, 2017) The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) and the Turkish navy frigate TCG Turgutreis (F 241) depart Odessa, Ukraine, for the at-sea phase of exercise Sea Breeze 2017. Sea Breeze is a U.S. and Ukraine co-hosted multinational maritime exercise held in the Black Sea. the exercise is designed to enhance the interoperability of participating nations and strengthen maritime security within the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Weston Jones/Released)

Thales sonar to be used in Britain's Type 26 frigates By Richard Tomkins | July 13, 2017 July 13 (UPI) -- Britain's future Type 26 frigates are to be equipped with anti-submarine warfare sonar from Thales, the company announced on Wednesday. The contract to equip the first three with the sonars was awarded by the ship's builder, BAE Systems, Thales said. "We are pleased to be able to announce this contract with BAE Systems, which re- affirms our market position as a world-class provider of anti-submarine warfare sensors and systems," Phil Jones, head of Thales' maritime mission systems, said in a press release. "It's fantastic news to see our Sonar 2087 variable depth sonar deployed on the Type 26 platform based on the pedigree of the in-service equipment on the Type 23 and the latest inboard processing to provide an enduring capability for the Royal Navy." Thales said the manufacturing and maintenance of the systems will be conducted at company sites in Manchester and at Brest, France. Thales UK's maritime business includes manufacture of sonar for ships, submarines and helicopters for the Royal Navy. BAE is to build three Type 26 vessels. The program, however, is set to continue into 2026. It is anticipated another five of the frigates will be constructed. "Thales is the current provider of anti-submarine sonar to the serving Type 23 frigate fleet," Thales said in the statement. "This latest announcement firmly establishes Thales' position as the key sensor provider to the Royal Navy across its sonar, electronic warfare, optronics and communications capabilities." The Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates use Thales' Sonar 2087 towed array system. The system allows the ships to detect submarines at considerable distances beyond the submarine's range of attack. Source: https://www.upi.com

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia (July 13, 2017) Sailors launch Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1651, assigned to Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7, from the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) to deliver supplies to Marines attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) on shore as part of a large-scale amphibious assault during Talisman Saber 17. Ashland, serving in a combined U.S.-Australia-New Zealand amphibious force, executed ship-to- shore movements of MEU forces and equipment in order to enable the MEU to complete mission objectives. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Clay/Released)

Today's (July 15) commissioning of the Navy's newest guided-missile destroyer, the future USS John Finn (DDG 113) can be watched live at 4 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. HST on the Navy Live blog at https://go.usa.gov/xNSyA. The new destroyer honors Chief Aviation Ordnanceman John Finn, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the first attack by Japanese airplanes at Pearl Harbor. While under heavy machine gun fire, Finn manned a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp. Wounded multiple times, he had to be convinced to leave his post. After receiving first aid treatment, he overcame the effects of his injuries and returned to the squadron area to supervise the rearming of returning planes. Finn served throughout the war, earning a commission and eventually being promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He passed away in May 2010 at the age of 100. Adm. Harry Harris, commander, U.S. Pacific Command, delivers the ceremony's principal address at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Mrs. Laura Stavridis, wife of retired Adm. James Stavridis, serves as the ship's sponsor. "The commissioning of USS John Finn marks the beginning of what will be decades of exceptional service for this ship," said the Honorable Sean Stackley, acting secretary of the Navy. "During World War II, Chief Finn distinguished himself through heroic service to his fellow Sailors and our nation. I know the men and women who make up the crew of USS John Finn will carry his legacy forward with the same selfless service he distinguished more than 75 years ago." Designated DDG 113, John Finn is the 63rd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the first of her class commissioned since USS Michael Murphy joined the fleet Oct. 6, 2012. John Finn will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. John Finn will be capable of engaging in air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and will contain a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare, including Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities. Source: www.navy.mil

Royal Navy’s £8bn warships will be built with 65 per cent SWEDISH steel in blow to Brit workers Up to two thirds of the metal for the multi-billion pound order will be bought from Sweden By Holly Christodoulou 12th July 2017, 11:54 pm Updated: 13th July 2017 THE GOVERNMENT has been accused of shunning British workers after it was revealed the Royal Navy’s new £8 billion warships are using 65 per cent of Swedish steel. Union bosses have told the Mirror that British materials could have been used in the eight new Type 26 frigates if UK plants were properly briefed. But it has emerged that up to two thirds of the metal for the multi-billion pound order – the biggest Royal Navy deal after the Trident nuclear subs – will be bought from Sweden. The decision to source the material from overseas will come as a blow to the British steel industry, which is struggling to recover following a crisis that ravaged the sector and cost thousands of jobs.

The latest design for a Type 26 Global Combat Ship

It was revealed in a series of written Commons answers, by Defence Minister Harriet Baldwin. She said: ―Around 4,000 tonnes of steel will be required to build each Type 26 Frigate. Steel will be sourced principally from the UK and Sweden.‖ But in a second answer, she admitted: ―We expect around 35 per cent of steel for each ship will be sourced from UK suppliers in Scotland and Scunthorpe; approximately 1,400 tonnes per ship. ―For some grades of plate steel needed for the Type 26 Frigates the combination of thickness, size and flatness specifications means that the steel cannot be sourced in its entirety in the UK.‖ The government has now been slammed by union bosses for its decision to use foreign steel instead of helping UK workers. Community steelworkers’ union boss Roy Rickhuss said: ―British steel is some of the best in the world, and our Government should be using this project to help British steelworkers. ―It‘s not good enough for the Government to say we can‘t make the right sort of steel. If we had a proper industrial strategy our steelworks would be equipped to meet the challenges. ―Steelworkers have made big sacrifices over the past few years; it‘s now time for the Government to bring forward a strategy for steel that supports our industry and our steel communities.‖ Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who uncovered the Government’s latest shame, with parliamentary questions, said: ―Last year, the Government talked a lot about helping Port Talbot in South Wales. ―To great fanfare it announced UK steel would be used on big projects. This has been shown not to be true. It is the latest betrayal of workers, families and communities.‖ Shipbuilder BAE Systems said Yorkshire-based Dent Steel UK has been selected to source steel for the first three ships. They added: ―Approximately 50 per cent of the value of steel will be British, equating to around 35 per cent of the overall weight.‖ So far the Government has committed a total of £4.7bn to the Type 26 programme – which is expected to last until 2035. The first Type 26 is expected to be delivered in 2020. Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk

The SSN 768 USS Hartford visited Brest Photo : Jacques Carney ©

Unmanned ships to pad the Navy’s fleet By Marcus Weisgerber July 13, 2017 When people talk about President Trump’s plans for a bigger military, the 355-ship Navy is often the first thing they cite. Shipbuilders say they’re ready and lobbying groups have flooded email inboxes with cries for more, more, more. The man who would oversee the effort to grow the fleet is Richard Spencer, Trump’s nominee for Navy secretary. At his Senate confirmation hearing this week, Spencer hinted that at least some of those new warships might not carry human sailors. ―[P]eople have asked, ‗What do you think of the 355-ship Navy?‘ And I said: It is a great goal to have. I can‘t tell you what the construct of that would be, sitting here today, because I think unmanned — both below the water, on the water and in the air — is an area we‘re just beginning to chip away at. And that‘s going to provide some great yield for us,‖ Spencer told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Here’s another thing: all of those new ships might not be new. ―If we take the full gamut of what‘s available to us to tackle the 355-ship goal, we should be thinking outside the box,‖ Spencer said. ―We should be thinking, possibly, bringing things out of the ready reserve. [Perhaps some recently decommissioned FFG-7 class frigates, CNO Adm. John Richardson said in June.] We should be looking at ways to construct better, faster, cheaper.‖ Capital Alpha analyst Byron Callan notes that a mix of crewed and unmanned ships ―sync up‖ with firms’ acquisitions over the past year. We’ve been keeping an eye on related developments such as the new teaming agreement between Huntington Ingalls and Boeing, or L3 Technologies’ April acquisition of underwater drone maker OceanServer. Callan notes that Spencer’s comments ―may suggest a different fleet mix than just 355 ships and submarines.‖ Spencer also mentioned a new frigate, which the Navy this week took some steps toward defining. The request for information paints a picture of a ship with SM-2 and/or Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles and an advanced radar. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., who has pounded away on the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships for their relatively light armament and other perceived flaws, said he is ―cautiously optimistic‖ about the new frigate. ―This new frigate must be more capable than the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, with minor modifications,‖ McCain said. ―For example, the new frigate‘s ability to perform local area air defense for convoys of ships would provide a necessary and clear capability improvement over the LCS program.‖ Source: http://www.defenseone.com

NAVY VESSEL GETS STUCK ON SANDBANK ON DUTCH COAST A landing vessel of the Corps Marines got stranded on a sandbank during a training exercise just off the coast of Vlissingen on Wednesday evening. The vessel was stuck for several hours, before high tide freed it, Omroep Zeeland reports. A spokesperson for the Marines told the broadcaster that the stranded vessel had no consequences for the training exercise, which was set to last well into the early hours of Thursday morning. The landings form part of large-scale training involving 130 marines, according to NU.nl. They have been practicing along the coastline and on the water near Vlissingen and Terneuzen since Tuesday. The training involves practice ammunition, a number of vessels, 23 military vehicles, eight military track vehicles and two helicopters. Zr. Ms. Rotterdam is stationed on the Westerschelde for the exersise. Vessels and helicopters depart from the transport ship as part of the training. source : NL Times

Serco tugs Faithful, Eileen and Careful assist the Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean in to Plymouth Sound July 14. photo : Raymond Wergan, Newton Ferrers.(c) Halifax Shipyard holding open house after sections of new patrol vessel move outside Irving Shipbuilding says two thirds – the centre and stern ―mega-blocks‖ – of the future Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship HMCS Harry DeWolf are moved outside the facility this weekend. A release from Irving Shipbuilding says two thirds – the centre and stern ―mega-blocks‖ – of the future HMCS Harry DeWolf will be moved outside the shipbuilding facility on Barrington Street on Friday and Saturday. Those two mega-blocks will be moved to land level for further outfitting, the release says, and then be joined together. They’ll form 70 per cent of HMCS Harry DeWolf . The third piece, the bow, is still under construction. The release says it will join the other two pieces this fall, and then HMCS Harry DeWolf will be launched in 2018. ―To celebrate this milestone,‖ Irving Shpbuilding was having an open house on Saturday. source: Metro

South China Sea concerns flare up as Duterte considers drilling in Beijing's claims Concerns of a flare-up in Philippine-China relations are back in focus as Manila considers resuming energy exploration in the disputed South China Sea. Manila has protested Beijing's territorial expansion in the South China Sea, and the issue has sparked numerous Philippine protests against the mainland and weighed on bilateral ties South China Sea concerns flare up as Duterte considers drilling in Beijing's claims South China Sea concerns flare up as Duterte considers drilling in Beijing's claims Manila appears to be testing its relationship with Beijing as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte considers resuming energy exploration in the tension-laden South China Sea. Oil and gas drilling in the Reed Bank, located in the international waterway, has been suspended since 2014. That came after Manila launched an international arbitration case against Beijing over the latter's territorial expansion in the South China Sea — an issue that has sparked numerous Philippine protests against the mainland and weighed on bilateral ties. But activity in the Reed Bank could recommence before year-end, Ismael Ocampo, a director at the Philippines' Department of Energy's Resource Development Bureau, said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. An underwater mountain off the Philippine coast, the feature is believed to hold significant oil and gas deposits. Over 20 oil, gas and coal blocks in the Reed Bank as well as areas around Palawan and the Sulu Sea could be be offered in a corporate bidding round set for December, Ocampo said. A year ago, a tribunal in The Hague validated Manila's right to access offshore oil and gas fields in its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone that includes the Reed Bank, but Beijing refused to recognize the ruling. Since then, Duterte has stalled on enforcing the court decision, opting to instead improve existing ties with the North Asian giant in order to secure mainland investments. Earlier this year, the Philippine leader claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping had warned of war should Manila attempt drilling in the South China Sea's contentious waters. However, Wednesday's news indicated Duterte may be changing his mind on the matter. The new development points to a few potential scenarios, according to Eufracia Taylor, Asia analyst at risk advisory firm Verisk Maplecroft. "Manila is largely hoping for the best, and plans could be highly vulnerable to a direct rebuke from China," she wrote in a Thursday note. "Having watched Vietnam develop disputed offshore areas, with the absence of physical intervention from China, Manila is also testing the boundaries." Alternatively, Manila may have sought direct approval from China and traded a softer stance in the South China Sea for exploration rights, she continued. Regardless, the murky political situation could impact corporate demand for energy drilling if December's bidding round does materialize. Upstream oil and gas company PXP Energy was one of the companies whose Reed Bank operations were disrupted in 2014, but while it "may be eager to continue with exploration, other companies will be wary of China's position on drilling in disputed waters," Taylor said. The decision to restart drilling also highlights Manila's energy security concerns, especially as the country's Malampaya natural gas field, also located in the South China Sea, winds down, Taylor noted. source: CNBC

Elephant rescued after being found swimming 16km out to sea In a miraculous rescue the Sri Lanken Navy were able safe an elephant that had been washed 16km out to sea. The creature was spotted by a navy patrol boat, floating with its head submerged and seeming to struggle to lift its trunk above the water to get air. The elephant was thought to have been dragged out by the current while trying to cross shallow waters. A team of divers and second navy vessel were dispatched to the location, rescuing the stranded elephant by tying ropes around its body and guiding it back to the shore with the using boats. Department of Wildlife officials were also sent to help, joining forces with the Sri Lankan Navy by ―providing necessary instruction which became extremely vital‖ to the success of this unusual rescue mission, according to the Navy’s official statement. At times all the crew could see of the animal was his trunk, poking above the water for air. Supplied It took the crew a gruelling 12 hours to safely direct the animal back to dry land, where it was then given into the care to the wildlife officials for assessment. According to navy officials, the elephant was likely dragged out to sea after being caught in a current of the coast near the town of Kokkilai. A researcher from the conservation group A Rocha, Avinash Krishnan, told The Guardian that elephants are actually quite capable swimmers and it is not uncommon for them to swim to get to different landmasses. ―They‘re very good swimmers. Swimming about 15km from the shore is not unusual for an elephant,‖ he said While they can swim when necessary, Krishnan says they tire very quickly because swimming burns up a lot of their energy, so it was lucky that this elephant was found because it may have been out to sea for a considerable amount of time. source: news.com Not Navy, but news nonetheless.