Hank Ort News

The larger of CMRE’s ships is now operated by an Italian military crew under an Italian Navy Flag. On 9 April 2016, at the Italian Naval Base in La Spezia (Italy), the Raising of the Italian Flag Ceremony was held in the presence of Italian and NATO civilian and military authorities, including Vice Admiral Ignacio J. Horcada Rubio, SACT Representative in Europe, Vice Admiral Filippo Maria Foffi, Commander in Chief of the Italian Naval Fleet, Major General Albert Husniaux, NATO STO (Science and Technology Organization) Chief Scientist, and Rear Admiral (Ret.) Hank Ort, STO CMRE Director. The NATO Research Vessel Alliance is one of the only two NATO-owned research vessels…

On 13 March RAdm Hank Ort (Rtd), director of the NATO Centre for Maritime Research & Experimentation (CMRE) and Mr. Dino Nascetti, president of Promostudi foundation, signed a three-year framework agreement between the two entities. The protocol makes provision for joint innovation activities and research in the maritime environment with reciprocal exchange for educational and scientific purposes, both nationally and internationally. In particular, opportunities will be developed for cooperation in issues of common interest such as robotics, underwater acoustics, underwater systems, and more generally in systems engineering and ICT (information and communication technologies).

The Promostudi Foundation and the NATO Centre for Maritime Research & Experimentation (CMRE) today finalized a three-year maritime research and development agreement. The agreement between the two organizations, both based in La Spezia, Italy, includes agreements on joint innovation activities, research in the maritime environment  and reciprocal exchange for educational and scientific purposes, both nationally and internationally. In particular, opportunities will be developed for cooperation in issues of common interest such as robotics, underwater acoustics, underwater systems, and more generally in systems engineering and ICT (information and communication technologies).

In the last few days the number of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has increased highlighting the fact that now the monsoon is weakening, the pirates are once again ready to attack merchant ships transiting through the Indian Ocean. MC Northwood's Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hank Ort (NLD N) states, "in the last few years, it has been the case that come October when the South West monsoon weakens, the pirates have been able to put to sea and we have seen the number of attacks on merchant vessels increase.

Pakistan Navy's Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Mohammad Haroon Hi, addresses the crowd during a change of command ceremony for Commander Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) aboard HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (F802). Pakistani Rear Adm. Shahid Iqbal relieved Royal Netherlands Navy Commodore Hank Ort as CTF-150. U.S. Pakistani Rear Adm. Shahid Iqbal relieved Royal Netherlands Navy Commodore Hank Ort as commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 during a change of command ceremony aboard HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (F802) at the port of Mina Salman, Bahrain, April 24. The change of leadership marks the first time an officer of a regional nation has assumed command of any of the three coalition task forces that comprise the Combined Maritime Force.

From U.S. An armed suspected pirate looks over the edge of a skiff, in international waters off the coast of Somalia. USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) prepared to board the suspicious vessel. The vessel’s crew members opened fire on the U.S. Navy ships and the ships’ crew members returned fire. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. ABOARD USS CAPE ST. GEORGE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) returned fire on a group of suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean…