RED FOX

Admiral Provides Details of Somali Piracy Killings

Four pirates are dead and 15 are in custody, but not before they killed four Americans in the bloodiest piracy incident in recent history, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command told reporters in a conference call.   Navy Vice Adm. Mark I. Fox, who also commands the Navy’s 5th Fleet, said the pirates shot Scott and Jean Adams of California and Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle of Washington state. The surface vessel Quest was sailing around the world when the Somalis hijacked it off the coast of Oman.   White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Air Force One that President Barack Obama authorized the use of force if there was an imminent threat to the hostages. He said the president was informed of their deaths at 4:42 this morning.   “The loss of our fellow Americans is a tragedy,” Fox said from his headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.   The admiral gave a timeline of the action. Pirates captured the vessel about 190 nautical miles southeast of Masirah Island, Oman, Feb. 18. Four U.S. Navy warships responded: the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf and the guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Bulkeley.   The ships found the vessel and made contact with the pirates via bridge-to-bridge radio, and began a series of negotiations. Yesterday, two pirates boarded the USS Sterett to continue negotiations.  

Arctic Well Drills by Shell to Increase Due to Delays

Royal Dutch Shell expects to drill 8 wells in the second half of its two-year Arctic exploration program, 3 more than originally planned. Stubborn ice sheets and permit delays have reduced the amount of time available for Shell to complete the first five wells this year, reports 'Fox Business News'. Shell, which still plans to drill ten wells in two years, is busy working with the U.S. coastguard to complete a special oil spill containment vessel that is being retrofitted to operate in more

US Naval Postgraduate School Awards +400 Advanced Degrees

More than 400 students of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) earned degrees this summer quarter including nine doctoral graduates. The ceremony's keynote speaker offered another unique aspect to the class. 

Vice Adm. Mark I. Fox, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5), was not only the ceremony's premier speaker, he was also a proud parent with his own son, Lt. Collin R. Fox, a member of this quarter's graduating class completing a master's degree in

JFK Towed to Philadelphia for Storage

By Kathleen Roberts, Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs The decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) is scheduled to arrive March 22 at the Navy's Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility in for preservation and storage. Due to safety and security concerns, the ship will not be open for tours while in storage in . A contracted tug boat began towing the inactive carrier John F. Kennedy from Norfolk Naval Station on March 17

Carnival Cruise Lines To Raise $1.5 Million For American Red Cross Relief Efforts

Carnival Cruise Lines will donate $50 for each stateroom sold over the next 30 days to the American Red Cross to aid in relief efforts associated with the recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. The $50 per cabin donation is expected to generate approximately $1.5 million for the American Red Cross, continuing Carnival's decade-long association with the world's foremost relief organization. Carnival, like other companies throughout the world

Hope Shipyard Delivers M/V Redfish

Higman Marine Services of Houston, Texas, took delivery of its newest vessel, the M/V Red Fish. The vessel was built in five months by Hope Shipyard, located in Dulac, La. The pushboat is slightly larger than previous vessels built for Higman, measuring 78 ft by 32 ft with a 10 ft depth. The M/V Red Fish headed out from Hope’s fabrication yard on the Houma Navigational Waterway after a quick delivery to meet up with her first tow

GGS Rotation Change

In response to requests from clients and the shipping public for quicker transit times to the Red Sea, Gulf and the Middle East markets, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company announced a rotation change on its GGS USAEC / Far East service, which had previously sailed via the Cape of Good Hope, but will now sail through the Suez Canal and call at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, thereby substantially reducing transit times.  This will be a non-stop direct service from the United States to Jeddah.

This Day in Naval History – April 20

1796 - Congress authorizes completion of 3 frigates 1861 - Norfolk Navy Yard abandoned and burned by Union forces. 1914 - In first call to action of naval aviators, detachment on USS Birmingham sailed to Tampico, Mexico. 1915 - First Navy contract for lighter-than-air craft awarded. 1942 - USS Wasp (CV-7) launches 47 British aircraft to reinforce Malta 1947 - CAPT L.O. Fox, USN, supported by 80 Marines, accepted the surrender of LT Yamaguchi and 26 Japanese soldiers and sailors

This Day in Naval History - April 20

From the Navy News Service 1796 - Congress authorizes the completion of three frigates. 1861 - Norfolk Navy Yard in Virginia is abandoned and burned by Union forces. 1914 - In the first call to action of naval aviators, a detachment on USS Birmingham sailed to Tampico, Mexico. 1915 - The first Navy contract for lighter-than-air craft is awarded. 1942 - USS Wasp (CV 7) launches 47 British aircraft to reinforce Malta.

Hornblower Employees Lead Fleet Week

Hornblower Cruises & Events' employees have led a movement among San Francisco's sailing and boating community to celebrate Spirit of Fleet Week in lieu of the cancellation of this weekend's events. Bringing together historic and recreation vessels, a Parade of Ships is planned for October 6 and 7 at 3:00 p.m. After learning the fate of this year's Fleet Week, Hornblower employees searched for another venue to express their appreciation to America's Armed Forces and raise money for the