UNBELIEVABLE

CNO Speaks to Naval Aviators at Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Symposium

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Rebekah Blowers, Chief of Naval Operations Public AffairsChief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead spoke at the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Symposium on April 25 about the community's part in "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower." CNO discussed the vital role of maritime patrol and reconnaissance to the maritime strategy, emphasizing the need to work with other navies. "Yours is a community that gives us that global presence," said Roughead. "You are there, you are the strategy and most importantly, you and your shipmates are the ones that are carrying it out, day in and day out." CNO spoke about his three priorities to maintain current readiness, build tomorrow's Navy and the importance of Sailors, Navy civilians and their families. He said it was imperative the Navy is ready for the challenges of today and tomorrow. "I can tell you that whenever the Navy has been called upon, the Navy has flown. The readiness that we put into place a few years ago with the creation of the Fleet Response Plan has allowed us to be that way. But we're also able to do it because we're global and we're deployed and we are where things are happening. Maintaining current readiness allows us to do that," Roughead said.

PetroCom’s VSAT Sat Services Completely Operational

PetroCom is making great strides in repairing its communication systems that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Patched very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite and wireless systems that were quickly operational with ingenuity and resourcefulness are now repaired properly and working near capacity. “My staff has done an unbelievable job of improvising and thinking outside of the box to restore services. Our first goal was to patch communication trunk-lines and make them

ITF Condemns 'utterly unbelievable' Moroccan Court Decisions

The ITF has condemned as ‘utterly unbelievable’ a totally unexpected decision by a court in Morocco to jail trade union leaders Said Elhairech and Mohamed Chamchati. Elhairech the general secretary of the Moroccan Ports Union, part of the ITF-affiliated UMT, and chair of the ITF Arab World regional committee, was arrested in June 2012 on charges of ‘sabotage and endangering national security’

Incat-Built Spearhead Meets Army’s Expectations

“Awesome” is the word used by CW3 Patrick S. May, Commander of USAV Spearhead when describing the US Army’s Theater Support Vessel sustaining 48.7 knots running down the coast of Qatar during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September 2002, when Incat sold a second ship for service with the US Army, expectations were high. As the Army’s first Theater Support vessel, TSV-1X USAV Spearhead would be utilized on missions to maximize its speed and flexibility, being

George H.W. Bush Visits USS Ashland

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mandy Hunsucker, Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs Former President George H.W. Bush visited the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) to say thank you for the crew's service, June 15. Bush and some of his family members were on vacation in when they found out that would be visiting Rhodes, while the ship was returning from the . Bush quickly adjusted his schedule and made a detour just to stop by and talk with the crew.

Breaking Ships on Tidal Beaches is Illegal

The International Ship Recycling Association (ISRA) is quite clear; Bangladeshi ship breakers who are using tidal beaches are, as ISRA understands the court decision, illegal. The ruling by the Bangladeshi High Court on the petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association to close the ship breaking yards is a logical outcome as beaching practices are against future international law. The court order seems to confirm ISRA’s point that the practice of using a tidal beach

Rep. Gifford’s Husband, Captain Mark E. Kelly, is USMMA Alum

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY, was particularly close to the shooting this weekend of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, as her husband is U.S. Navy Captain Mark E. Kelly, a NASA Astronaut born in West Orange, NJ, and a 1986 graduate of USMMA with a bachelor of science degrees in marine engineering and marine transportation (with highest honors). Rep. Giffords was shot on Saturday, Jan. 8 at a supermarket in northwest Tucson, Arizona.

KONGSBERG System Suppresses Superfluous Alarms

The Flagship maritime transport project has developed software that enables comprehensive suppression of audible warnings in order to avoid large cascades of alarms on the bridge and in the engine room. Precise overview Known as iCAS (intelligent central alarm system), the system is designed to provide a precise overview of the situation on board as it develops while freeing up staff to address the situation. Focused operations

FLAGSHIP-iCAS: Optimum Situation-Awareness In An Emergency

FLAGSHIP, the Pan-European maritime transport project part funded by the EU, has successfully developed software that enables comprehensive suppression of audible warnings in order to avoid large cascades of alarms on the bridge and in the engine room. Called iCAS (intelligent Central Alarm System),  the system is designed to provide a precise overview of the situation on board as it develops while freeing up staff to address the situation and follow the vessel’s routines without

Furuno Named NMEA "Manufacturer of the Year"

Furuno has once again received the lion’s share of awards at the prestigious 2011 National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) Convention in Sanibel, FL. This brings Furuno’s NMEA Award total to an incredible 201 awards since NMEA started presenting awards in 1971. A total of ten NMEA Awards were presented this year and Furuno received half of the awards issued. For the sixth consecutive year, Furuno received the coveted Manufacturer of the Year - Support award