New Research Will Aid Naval Planners
The Office of Naval Research Global (ONR Global) announced Jan. 30 a grant to the University of Melbourne that will provide new insights into ocean conditions-crucial information for Navy planners involved in tactical and strategic decision-making. The project is intended to improve understanding of conditions in the Indian Ocean, including validating satellite data on salinity, or salt, levels. Confirming satellite findings with actual field-level research is an area scientists have deemed essential to improving the Navy's oceanographic models. The research is in collaboration with Kenyan and Indian scientific organizations. "The major goal of this kind of research is to be able to provide the best information possible on the environmental…
ONR to Develop App for Pirate Problems Etc.
The International Collaborative Development for Enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness (ICODE MDA) was one of 14 projects selected by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to receive $1 million awards beginning this fall through the Coalition Warfare Program, which funds international collaborative research efforts. The ICODE MDA project is a research alliance between ONR and Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific).
APS, Swift Returns to Ghana in Support of NOAA, Fisheries
High Speed Vessel 2 Swift arrived in Tema, March 30 for its second visit here, as well as its seventh engagement visit as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS). Swift will host a group of 40 Ghanaian fisheries observers in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service, who will be leading a training workshop. Fisheries observers embark industrial fishing vessels off of the coast of Ghana and collect information about the fish being caught, as well as interactions between fishing activities and mammals, sea turtles and sea birds. However, the impact of observer activities affects more than just fisheries management…
Swift Assists Vessel in Distress Off Liberian Coast
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Campbell, Africa Partnership Station Public AffairsWhile transiting off the coast of Monrovia, Liberia as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS), March 20 High Speed Vessel 2 Swift received a distress call, relayed from the Maritime Regional Coordination Center (RMCC) in Lisbon, of a Portuguese fishing vessel, the Princesa Di Guadiana, stranded 100 nautical miles off the Liberian Coast with no food, water or fuel. The RMCC contacted Lt. Cmdr. Jose Neto of the Portuguese Navy, who is the APS operations officer aboard the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), APS flag ship. Cap Lara, a Greek flagged vessel, remained in the vicinity until Swift arrived to assist the Princesa.
