I am always interested in unusual looking ships and a friend of mine, who like me, is also a fan of Madeira as a holiday destination sent me a photograph of French ship Monge taken at Funchal in early July.
She looks highly unusual and on following it up, I discovered she is, indeed, a very specialised vessel – 'A Missile Range Instrumentation Ship'. Launched in October 1990, she was commissioned into the French Navy in November 1992.
Her main role is said to be to track and test SLBMS (Ballistic Missiles) during their test programmes. She is also used to track anything in the air or space as an intelligence collection vessel. She is painted white instead of the usual gray to minimise the deformation of the shell under the heat of the sun – as very precise settings are necessary for her onboard radars and other highly technical equipment carried.
It is thought that FS Monge A601 is one of the few, if not the only ship of her type in the world. She does, indeed, look like something out of science fiction!
The last of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s famous Tyne class lifeboats was launched for the last time at her
Clydeport has played a vital role in the building of the UK’s largest onshore windfarm on Eaglesham Moor, just 20
The largest combination container, roll-on, roll-off ship ever built in the United States was formerly named in a ceremony at
The United States is to invest $292.7mn in the country’s ports through a new Port Infrastructure Development Programme.
The first marine export facility for propane in Canada has been officially opened.
The Panama Canal plans to modify its tolls structure for all types of ships “to better serve the global maritime
The largest LNG tanker to use the Panama Canal since it was expanded less that three years ago passed through
The Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen KK (K Line) aims to cut ship greenhouse gas emissions with automated power kites.
The Japanese shipping line Ocean Network Express (ONE) was due to start an enhanced North Sea Baltic Service with Russia
The Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Russian university on co-operation
The first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has left Shell’s floating LNG facility Prelude some 475kms north-east of Broome
Following two-ship trials, augmented reality (AR) navigation systems are to be installed on 21 very large crude oil carriers (VLCCs)
US News
The US Navy has unveiled its plans for the purchase of a new frigate known as FFG(X).
UK News The fourth member of the new Dreadnought class of nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines will bear the name
American News The contract for the construction of LPD30, the first Flight II Landing Platform Dock of the San Antonio
American News The future frigate program for the US Navy is getting fully underway and some idea of the urgency
TMore and more, I am reading reports that say the media, and the public too, are well aware of the
Irish Continental Group has entered into a bareboat hire purchase agreement for the sale of its 1987-built Oscar Wilde to
I include a fine poster and artist’s image of the famed Macbrayne paddler Columba.
To the North East Coast and arriving at Aberdeen for the first time for many months, I witnessed a passenger
Last month I commented on the new setting of the classic collection of mainly steam boats held at Windermere.
The Danish Maritime Museum had the schooner Bonavista built on the island of Aero at Marstal and this year they
I was in Montrose on the Norwegian National Day, 17 May, when its independent constitution from Sweden was confirmed in
When I first arrived in Aberdeen in 1968, I couldn’t believe my luck.
Most of the rivers flowing into the Thames had their own barge type.
For some time Victory, the 110gun ship of the line, has had trouble with dry rot and is in danger
With the training of seafarers being so important to safety at sea, and in particular navigation equipment and bridge procedures,
I feel there are probably many readers, like me, who feel a shiver down their spine when they think of
For more than 35 years, it has been my immense privilege to be a local Isle of Man committee member
The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) has announced that it will provide immediate funding to support efforts to “Save The
The construction of Viking Glory is proceeding on schedule.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines were proud to have played its part in hosting 250 D-Day veterans.
If you have ever wondered what qualities a Captain of a cruise vessel might need to have listed on his
With 25 projects underway, business is booming for Amels, the Dutch luxury yacht builder.
Andrea Bocelli, the blind Italian tenor and song writer whose work spans both popular music and classical opera is a
