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First NH90 Step B Delivered to Italian Navy
1 Naval Today >> The industry’s seaborne news provider by Naval Today / 12h // keep unread // trash // preview
The first NH90 NFH Step B has been delivered to the Italian Navy. This fully operational naval helicopter will be assigned to the 5th Helicopter Squadron of the Italian Navy at the Sarzana-Luni base. The Italian Navy has ordered 56 NH90s, 46 of which in the NFH variant.
The Step B configuration features a range of significant advancements in mission capability including mission systems integration for both air-to-surface missiles such as the Marte MK/2S and torpedoes, advanced satellite and encrypted communications, radar and avionics capability enhancements. Next year the five previously delivered Italian Navy NH90NFH in Step A (MOC, Meaningful Operation Capability) standard, will begin to be retrofitted to bring them to the final configuration. “The NH90 NFH is the most recent and versatile helicopter for naval warfare” it is designed according to precise NATO Staff Requirements. It is equipped with a state of the art weapon system combining on a modern platform several types of sensors with a complete weapon suite. The NH90 NFH is able to perform a wide range of missions such as Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, SAR, Transport, Special Ops support, Boarding, Medical Evacuation, Maritime reconnaissance and Anti-Piracy In any type of environment. It can safely operate from a ship even in rough weather. The NH90 is the optimal choice for tactical transport, naval operations thanks to its large full composite airframe, its excellent power to weight ratio; and its wide range of rôle equipment. It features a redundant Fly-by-Wire flight control system for reduced Pilot’s workload and enhanced flight characteristics. As of today, more than 164 helicopters have been delivered and are in service in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Greece, Oman, Australia and New Zealand. The twin-engine, medium-size NH90 helicopter program is managed by the consortium NHIndustries, the Company owned by AgustaWestland SpA (32%), Eurocopter (62.5%), and Fokker Aerostructures (5.5%). |
Russian Warship Docks in Egypt
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Russian Warship Docks in Egypt
1 Naval Today >> The industry’s seaborne news provider by Naval Today / 11h // keep unread // trash // preview
The Egyptian port of Alexandria welcomed a Russian missile cruiser yesterday, according to the New Zealand Herald.Varyag, the flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, docked in Alexandria ahead of one of the highest-level visits by Russian officials to the country in decades. During the unofficial visit, Russian sailors are scheduled to tour Egyptian Navy warships and share their experiences, which will be followed by sports competitions with their Egyptian counterparts. The ship will be in Egypt for six days, and is expected to later join Russian forces in the Mediterranean. Varyag is Salva-class cruiser that was laid down in 1979, launched in July 1983, and commissioned in October 1989. She has the length of 186.4m and can reach a speed up to 32 knots (59 km/h; 37mph). Varyag is equipped with: • 16x P-500 Bazalt (SS-N-12 Sandbox) anti-ship missiles, 8×8 (64) S-300PMU; |
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Pyotr Veliky Leads Russian Task Force in Mediterranean
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Pyotr Veliky Leads Russian Task Force in Mediterranean
2 Naval Today >> The industry’s seaborne news provider by Naval Today / 11h // keep unread // trash // preview
Pyotr Veliky, the Russian Northern Fleet’s (NF) nuclear-powered missile cruiser, took over the lead role of a task force in the Mediterranean from yesterday, according to RIA Novosti.Officials report that the HQ’s was transferred to the ship from the Black Sea Fleet’s missile cruiser Moskva, which completed its mission in the Mediterranean on Sunday. Petr Velikiy is a heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser (TARKR), the fourth Kirov class battlecruiser of the Russian Navy. Although the ship is not a battlecruiser by the traditional definition of the type, but a missile cruiser, her size has given her the unofficial designation of a battlecruiser. The Russian standing task force in the Mediterranean counts: • Missile cruiser (Varyag) The presence of Russian ships in the Mediterranean Sea is to protect its interests in the region, as explained by Russian defense leaders. |
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Seabulk Contracts NASSCO for Up to Two More Tankers
MarineLink.com
Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 10:40 AM
Artist’s rendition of Ecotanker (Photo: NASSCO)
General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has entered into a contract with Seabulk Tankers, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc., for the design and construction of one 50,000 deadweight ton LNG-conversion-ready product carrier with a 330,000 barrel cargo capacity, plus an option for one additional vessel. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2015, with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2016. This new tanker will be constructed at the NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, meeting the Jones Act requirement that ships carrying cargo between U.S. ports be built in U.S. shipyards.
This new 610-foot-long tanker is a continuation of the ECO MR tanker design, which delivers improved fuel efficiency and incorporates the latest environmental protection features, including a Ballast Water Treatment System. Including this order, NASSCO is now under contract for the design and construction of seven tankers, plus an option for one additional vessel. In September, NASSCO entered into a contract with Seabulk for two tankers of the same design. That order was preceded by a contract in May for four vessels from American Petroleum Tankers.
These seven ships are being designed by DSEC, a subsidiary of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) of Busan, South Korea. DSEC’s ECO design achieves improved fuel efficiency through several features, including a G-series MAN ME slow-speed main engine and an optimized hull form. The tankers will have conversion-capable, dual-fuel-capable auxiliary engines and the ability to accommodate the future installation of an LNG fuel-gas system and Type C LNG tanks.
Kevin Graney, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics NASSCO, said, “NASSCO remains committed to bringing the most economical and environmentally sound technology to Jones Act owners and operators. We are very pleased to extend our partnership with SEACOR through a third and potentially a fourth ECO tanker. This follow-on order is a clear indication that NASSCO is the shipyard of choice for Jones Act tankers.”
Charles Fabrikant, executive chairman of SEACOR Holdings, commented, “We are pleased to expand our relationship with NASSCO with this additional Jones Act tanker order. These ECO tankers will play a vital role in offering Seabulk’s customers some of the most modern and fuel efficient vessels available as they determine their Jones Act transportation requirements for crude oil and refined products over the coming years.”
nassco.com
seabulktankers.com
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NATO Warship Captures Suspected Pirates
MarineLink.com
Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 3:12 PM
Photo: ACO
On Sunday, November 10, 2013, NATO’s counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield warship HDMS Esbern Snare boarded two small craft and detained nine suspected pirates, following an attack in the area the previous day.
On Saturday, the Danish flagged vessel Torm Kansas reported she was attacked unsuccessfully by pirates in the Indian Ocean, but the ship’s armed security team repelled the attack. Esbern Snare, the closest NATO unit to the failed attack, was directed to the scene by the Commander of the Ocean Shield Task Force (CTF-508), Commodore Henning Amundsen. During the night, despite unfavorable weather conditions, Esbern Snare located a whaler and a skiff in the vicinity of the attack on the Danish vessel.
On Sunday, Esbern Snare’s Special Maritime Insertion Unit, supported by the embarked LYNX helicopter, launched an operation against the two small craft to investigate their possible involvement in the attack. The suspected pirates surrendered without resistance and are being detained aboard Esbern Snare.
The failed attack on Torm Kansas is one of several such attacks in the Indian Ocean in recent days, indicating an increase in pirate activity in the region. None of these attacks have been successful, due in large part to the presence of three counter-piracy task forces and several independent Naval vessels patrolling the Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden, as well as the use of armed security teams and adoption of other counter-piracy best practices by many merchant ships transiting the region.
“This incident is both a positive example of the successes of the international community in deterring piracy and a reminder that we must remain vigilant,” Amundsen said. “The root causes of piracy remain, though the international community is working to address them.”
aco.nato.int
