UNITAS 2017 Naval Exercise Begins In Peru
Naval maritime forces from 19 countries are gathering in Lima, Peru, to kick off the 58th iteration of the annual multilateral exercise UNITAS. The meeting will conclude on July 26. This year's exercise will be hosted by Peru and commanded by Peruvian navy Rear Adm. Alberto Alcala. Participating countries include the United States, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, Mexico, Spain, Canada, and the United Kingdom. While participating in UNITAS 2017, U.S. forces will be under the operational control of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 138/U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT) Rear Adm. Sean Buck.
Sterett-Dewey Surface Action Group in Hawaii
Ships and units from the Sterett-Dewey Surface Action Group (Sterett-Dewey SAG) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 11, the first stop of the group's Western Pacific deployment. The command staff of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 31 and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105), along with embarked helicopter detachments from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49 and HSM 78, deployed from Naval Base San Diego March 31. During the transit to Hawaii, the Sterett-Dewey SAG completed a series of training and certification exercises tailored to meet projected expectations of Western Pacific operations. The group additionally worked with Carrier Strike Group 11 in a series of communications exercises.
Coast Guard IMSARC Demo a Success
The Irish Coast Guard coordinated a successful Marine Search and Rescue demonstration on Saturday 16th July. The exercise in Moville Co Donegal involved some of Ireland’s principal Search and Rescue resources. Participants included Donegal based volunteer Coast Guard units, the Sligo based Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter, Naval ship LÉ Orla, Air Corps Casa, RNLI’s new Shannon Class All Weather Lifeboat, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, UK Maritime Coastguard Agency, Irish Water Safety, Mountain Rescue Ireland and the Civil Defence. The event included a series of water based safety demonstrations: “Prevention and adherence to basic safety is the key element in minimising loss of life at sea and on our waterways”, concluded SARs Manager Gerard O’Flynn.
U.S., Indian, Japan Navies to Participate in Malabar
Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United States will participate in exercise Malabar 2015, Oct. 14-19, 2015. Malabar 2015 is a complex, high-end warfighting exercise that has grown in scope and complexity over the years and is the latest in a continuing series conducted to advance multi-national maritime relationships and mutual security issues. The exercise will feature both ashore and at-sea training. While ashore in Chennai, training will include subject matter expert and professional exchanges on carrier strike group operations; maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations; surface and anti-submarine warfare; medical operations; damage control; explosive ordnance disposal (EOD); helicopter operations; and visit board search and seizure (VBSS) operations.
New Tech & Tug Training
Mass. Maritime responds to industry demand, reloads with cutting edge Transas equipment, and moves to the head of the brown water training queue. It was a dark and stormy night with choppy seas. I didn’t hit anything, but I did run aground twice while at the helm of the tug boat simulator at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) in Buzzards Bay. But then that’s the point – to let students safely make mistakes and get the closest thing to the real-life experience they need – and would have a limited shot at otherwise on the equipment they’ll be handling where the jobs are today…
Partnership of the Americas Units Conduct Exercises with Brazilian Navy
Partnership of the Americas Task Group 40.0 conducted Passing Exercises (PASSEX) while underway with the Brazilian Navy on April 23 during Partnership of the Americas 2007. Within 36 hours, 18 events were completed to train the multinational task group in different warfare areas along with three Brazilian ships: BNS Independencia (F 44), BNS Bosisio (F 48) and BNS Gastao Motta (G 23). The task group is composed of USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58), USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and Chilean Frigate CS Almirante Latorre under the tactical command of Capt. Randy Snyder, Commander Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 40. “This is a great opportunity for United States, Chile and Brazil to work together prior to UNITAS Atlantic,” said Lt. Cmdr. Donald Voelbel, CDS 40 operations officer.
Partnership of the Americas Conducts PASSEX with Spanish
Partnership of the Americas (POA) Task Group 40.0 conducted Passing Exercises 21 with the Spanish Frigate Santa Maria (F 81) while underway during POA 2007. The PASSEX contributed to improved working relationships between the two navies and served as a foundation for increasing responsiveness and promoting regional security initiatives. Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Miluska Salazar, watchstander, had a brief conversation with a Spanish sailor from the Santa Maria while the ships were close together. “It was very exciting because he was waving at his friends and telling me about life on his ship while we conducted the PASSEX,” said Salazar.
