Algerian authorities have arrested three alleged la-Qaeda terrorists who were reportedly planning on using a vessel loaded with explosive to attack American or European shipping in the Mediterranean.
This follows the pattern of an earlier attack on the Japanese tanker M. Star on July 28, 2010 and the attacks on the French tanker Limburg in 2002 and the Destroyer USS Cole in 2000.
Navy Times recently reported that the 47 additional ships had been added to the list of those whose crews may have been exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam war.
Looking into this a little further, it appears that all Coast Guard vessels that participated (WAK, WHECs, WLBs, WPBs) are included in the list. Go here for more information. Any Vets who set foot in country are also presumed to have been exposed.
“Veterans must meet VA’s criteria for service in Vietnam, which includes aboard boats on the inland waterways or brief visits ashore, to be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides.
“Veterans who qualify for presumption of herbicide exposure are not required to show they were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides when seeking VA compensation for diseases related to Agent Orange exposure.”
The US will finish a new icebreaker this year, unfortunately it is not for the Coast Guard.
Marinelink.com reports the icebreaker M/V Aiviq,
“…contracted by Shell Oil to support drilling in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea, is scheduled to be completed by Louisiana-based Edison Chouest Offshore in early 2012. The vessel, ordered in July 2009, is on track for April 1, 2012, delivery in Galliano, La., and will then head north, according to Shell Oil spokesman Curtis Smith.”
“The vessel is being built to International Maritime Organization’s Polar Code 3, and measures 111.8 m long, with a 22-m beam and 22-m draft. “It has hybrid generators, noise-reduction equipment, and meets or exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 emission standards,” Smith said. The Aiviq can hold thousands of barrels of oil. And because it will be stationed far from medical facilities, the vessel will have a hospital on board.”
(Thanks to Lee Wahler for the heads up.)
Videos of presentations made at the Surface Navy Association are available here.
There are 21 videos, including a 49 minute presentation by Admiral Papp. Others include Under Secretary of the Navy Robert Works and CNO Adm. Johnathan W. Greenert
According to Reuters, when the new Chief of Naval Operations addressed the Surface Navy Association on January 10, he offered some clues as to how he thought the Navy might address the changing environment and stated that a review of the Navy’s force structure is expected this spring.There are a few areas where CG and Navy interests might intersect.
“The four-star admiral mapped out some areas of continued investment, including unmanned aerial and undersea vehicles…”
The CG could benefit, if Navy systems don’t become so sophisticated they are priced out of reach. Hopefully the Navy will apply their Broad Area Maritime Surveillance System (BAMS) (Navy illustration left) to areas of interest to the Coast Guard and the CG will be able to use it to help maintain maritime domain awareness.
“Greenert, who took over as the Navy’s top uniformed officer in September, told a packed audience that he made some changes to the Navy’s budget plan after visiting the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important shipping lane, which Iran last month threatened to shut off if new U.S. and EU sanctions over its nuclear program halted Iranian oil exports.
“He said funds were added for more mine warfare equipment, counter-swarm, and anti-submarine warfare.”
This could refer to mission modules for the Littoral Combat Ship program, but increased emphasis on ASW could mean another ship type may be needed. There could be an opportunity to share a hull with the OPC.
“Other priorities for the Navy in coming years included work on a next-generation destroyer to replace the Arleigh-Burke DDG-51 destroyers, a ship that he said would need a common hull and modular systems.”
So modular systems are being extended beyond the LCS program. This may be a way for cutters to have a meaningful war time role without the burden of maintaining weapon system on board in peacetime.
He also underscored the Navy’s interest in development of an anti-torpedo torpedo and new electronic warfare capabilities.
An anti-torpedo torpedo, might also be the basis of a system even small cutters could use for stopping large merchant ships.
Thursday, Jan. 12, Admiral Papp addressed the Surface Navy Association and asked for their help in educating the Congress and the Administration regarding the need to complete the current ship acquisition plans.
Two things come to mind, first, good to see the Commandant on the stump trying to sell the program, and second, the Navy has not been helpful so far.
Why hasn’t the Navy helped in this regard?
GCaptain reports the cruise ship Costa Concordia with 3200 passengers and a crew of 1000 struck an underwater obstruction and sank of the coast of Italy. At least three bodies have been recovered and 69 are missing.
Since the last piracy update on December 21, 2011. Nato reports there have been at least five pirate attacks, and at least six other incidents of apparent pirate activity. The Italian flag tanker MT Enrico Levoli was seized and is currently being held by pirates. Another vessel was seized but quickly released without ransom, when the pirates realized they had no way to deal with the 3,620 head of livestock on board.
The number of successful pirate attacks dropped to 24 last year, from 45 in 2010.
There have apparently been some efforts to suppress piracy on land, by what passes for government agencies. Puntland claims operations against pirates, including the arrest of 43 here, up to 150 here, and the arrest of investors here. Piracy is bad for business, but apparently piracy continues even in these regions.
Meanwhile the European Union is considering relaxing their rules of engagement to allow destruction of pirate assets on land. They are not contemplating putting troops ashore, but could use aircraft or naval guns.
Naval force seem to be increasingly effective, although there is still a problem of what to do with captured pirates.
On December 19 USS Pinckney “disrupted” a pirate operation. Inconvenienced might be a better description–pirates dumped their weapons and some paraphernalia, the boarding party dumped an outboard and left them with minimal fuel, but allowed the pirates to return to base.
On 7 January 2012, the Danish warship HDMS Absalon (L-16) intercepted and boarded a Somali pirate mother-ship at Indian ocean. The boarding crew liberated 14 Iranian and Pakistani fishermen who had been held as hostages for over two months. here and here. (Absalon is an interesting hybrid class of warship. Looks like a frigate, built to merchant standards, with a very flexible ro-ro load space. Apparently very cheap. Danes call it a support ship.)
As noted previously, naval auxiliaries are playing an active part in counter piracy operations. About 9 January there was a report that the tanker MV Liquid Velvet, which had been hijacked on October 31, had sortied, apparently to be used as a pirate mother-ship. About 12 January the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria (A387) disrupted its operation by intercepting and circling the ship. Apparently this induced the pirates to return to port.
“As my mama always told me, Stupid is as stupid does.” Jan. 12, Pirates attack the Spanish Flagship of the EU task force, ESPS PATINO (an underway replenishment ship). There was an exchange of gunfire. Pirates tried to escape, but surrendered to the ship’s helicopter. Six pirates captured, five of those wounded. Reports of a seventh pirate lost overboard after being killed in the firefight.
The pirates seem to be hurrying to liquidate some of their assets. The chemical tanker MT FAIRCHEM BOGEY has been released by Somali pirates just five months after it was hijacked. Somali pirates also reportedly released the Maltese-flagged tanker M/V OLIB G and her crew of 18.
Gulf of Guinea (West Africa):
A short video here discussing the growing problem in this region and the attendant violence.
South East Asia:
A tug and barge with a crew of nine was hijacked in the Straits of Singapore, but subsequently rescued by Indonesian authorities. “… the Straits of Singapore, which saw 11 attacks last year, up from three in 2010.”
Armed Security Teams:
The Brits have reservations and are still concerned about clarifying the rules under which armed security teams can use deadly force.
The Dutch are deploying teams of Marines to provide protection, including World Food Program ships transporting food to Somalia.
Hard for those of us who grew up in the Cold War era to comprehend, but the Russian Navy is expected to participate in the upcoming RIMPAC. They will be bringing a destroyer, the Bystr (a Sovremenny Class), a tanker, and of course a tug. They will be joined by ships from Australia, India, Indonesia, Canada, Colombia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore, Tonga, and Japan, in addition to the US Navy. I presume there will be some CG representation as well.
MARAD will be closing GMATS, the “Global Maritime and Transportation School,” a self supporting continuing education training program at the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA).
They are also losing their training ship.
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