Japanese News
It has been a particularly busy period for the Japanese with a number of new vessels being accepted into service.
The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force continues to add new vessels to its already impressive fleet. On 7 March, the first Asahi (25DD) class guided missile destroyer (pictured) was commissioned into service at a ceremony held at Nagasaki Prefecture. JS Asahi was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and has a length of 151 metres she will be followed by another three vessels of the same class. The class are armed with launchers for the Type 90 anti ship missile and the RIM-162B Evolved Sea Sparrow for anti aircraft duties. Additionally, each ship has a Mk 45 series 127mm naval gun, a pair of Mk15 Phalanx 20mm close in weapons systems and six 324mm torpedo tubes for Mk 46 lightweight anti submarine torpedoes.
Another addition to the Japanese fleet is the ninth Soryu class diesel electric submarine JS Seiryu, which was delivered from the shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Kobe.
The submarine rescue ship JS Chiyoda was accepted from Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding on 20 March. The new ship is 128 metres long and is the first such vessel to be inducted into the Japanese fleet. She will be based with the submarines of Submarine Flotilla 2 at Yokosuka.
Finally, the second of three Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels, JS Hirado, was commissioned into service on 16 March in Kanagawa Prefecture.
New Zealand News
HMNZS Te Kaha, one of two Meko 200 class frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy arrived at the Canadian Naval Base of Equimalt on 6 March to undertake a series of systems upgrades undertaken by Lockheed Martin Canada.
The frigate will receive extensive updates to its surveillance, self defence and combat capabilities including a brand new combat information system. The New Zealand government hopes that this refit and a similar one planned for her sister ship HMNZS Te Mana will extend the life of the frigates to beyond 2030.
Indian News
The Indian Government inked a deal with Russia for the construction of four new improved Krivak III class frigates.
The contract, said to be worth, 200 billion Indian Rupees (US$3.08 billion) will see the fi rst pair built in Russia at the Yantar Shipyard, with the second pair constructed at India’s Goa Shipyard Limited under the terms of a technology transfer arrangement.
US News
On Saturday 17 March, the US Navy commissioned the latest addition to their submarine fleet when the Virginia class nuclear attack submarine USS Colorado was formally commissioned into service.
The ceremony took place at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. The submarine is the 15th member of the class that is gradually replacing the elderly Los Angeles class submarines in service with the US Navy.
The first in a new class of four large roll-on,rolloff car and truck carriers for Wallenius Wilhelmsen, of Norway, has
A team of marine archaeologists believe they may have found the wreck of Captain James Cook’s famous vessel Endeavour which
Photographs of lifeboats dating from the turn of the 20th Century are the centrepiece of a new RNLI exhibition that
The vehicle carrier Makassar Highway, 17,735gt, of the Japanese company K Line, ran aground off the Swedish coast on the
A 55,848dwt bulk carrier had to be towed into New York harbour after she became disabled while more than 100
A major expedition takes place next summer to explore the wreck of the White Star Line passenger liner Titanic, 46,328grt,
Shipping and ports from the states of Virginia south to Georgia were seriously affected in mid-September by Hurricane Florence, which
The Port of Houston, in Texas, took delivery of three new neopanamax ship-to-shore cranes on Aug 6 and five rubber-tyred
The first offshore cleaning system was to be installed last month in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch located halfway between
The Australian shipbuilders Austal has rolled-out a new catamaran ferry for the Danish company Molslinjen at its Henderson shipyard in
China is the world’s leading international shipping nation, according to a new report presented at a Hamburg trade fair on
The proposed joint demonstration project by four Japanese organisations relating to the safety of vessels’ auto berthing and un-berthing has
A new record for crossing the Northern Sea Route was set up in July by the icebreaking LNG carrier Christophe
The contract for the icebreaker and research ship Aurora Australis, 6,574gt, to resupply Australia’s Antarctic stations has been extended until
American News The Zumult class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor was in dockyard hands at Bath in Maine for the removal
British News The assault ship HMS Albion, at time of writing, had just completed a five day visit to Tokyo
British News The latest survey vessel to join the Royal Navy was commissioned into service at her homeport of Devonport
British News The first four of Britain’s next generation F-35 Lightning supersonic fighter jets touched down in the United Kingdom
Russian News
Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, will be refitted to prolong the warship’s operational life.
At this time, when all cross-border ferry operators ex UK must be extremely apprehensive as leaving the EU approaches, Seatruck
Ferry services between Ullapool and Stornoway were disrupted when Caledonian MacBrayne’s Loch Seaforth lost power just over an hour into
In response to growing market demand, Stena Line has upped freight capacity on the popular Belfast – Liverpool route.
During World War II, most of France’s traditional sailing vessels were destroyed and after the war, the emphasis was on
On the north east coast of England, it was Sunderland’s proud claim that more ships had been built here than
At the end of May, a Tall Ships fleet met at Liverpool.
The organisers of the charter barges working from Ipswich are worried by plans to build a road bridge across the
Two German schooners based at Hamburg are regularly making voyages under sail with general cargoes across the Atlantic.
Over the years, I have been a great admirer of the vital work which Mercy Ships carries out in the
Coming from the NE of Scotland myself, I have been impressed by how, in recent years, Montrose Port Authority (MPA)
Once again, Flying Focus’ maritime aerial photographer, Herman IJsseling, has taken to the skies to brave the elements of nature
I am always in favour of any steps taken to improve safety of life at sea and I feel that
The Southampton headquartered ship repairer and marine engineering services provider, SMS, has launched the classic 1930’s superyacht Alicia from its
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