Swiss Passenger Vessel Serving as Vaccine 'Shot Ship' for Lakeside Towns
An 89-year-old passenger ship, out of commission due to the coronavirus pandemic, was repurposed on Tuesday as a COVID-19 vaccination center for thousands of residents from cities on Lake Constance.The 500-passenger MS Thurgau normally carries tourists and commuters between German and Swiss cities on Europe’s third-largest lake. In coming weeks it will serve as a floating inoculation hub for northern Swiss towns Romanshorn, Arbon and Kreuzlingen.Regional officials emphasized the ship’s practicality since it can sail from harbor to harbor…
Swiss Chide EU Over Steel Import Curbs
Switzerland criticized on Thursday measures the European Union has adopted to curb steel imports amid a global trade spat, saying they harmed the Swiss steel industry.The European Commission last month revised safeguard measures introduced in July 2018 and decided to reduce the annual increase in quota volumes, the government said in a summary of talks on the status of a bilateral free trade deal. "These changes threaten to further restrict bilateral steel trade between Switzerland and the EU and harm the Swiss steel industry…
Former CIA Spy Ship Becomes Victim of Oil Slump
A ship built by the CIA for a secret Cold War mission in 1974 to raise a sunken Soviet sub is heading to the scrap yard, a victim of the slide in oil prices. Christened the Hughes Glomar Explorer, after billionaire Howard Hughes was brought in on the CIA's deception, the 619-foot vessel eventually became part of the fleet of ships used by Swiss company Transocean to drill for oil. But the oil price rout means the former spy ship now called GSF Explorer is just one of 40 such offshore drilling rigs that have been consigned to scrap since last year.
Middle East Shipping Routes Secure: U.S.
Shipping corridors used by Gulf energy exporters are not at risk from violence and political volatility in Yemen and the seizure of swathes of territory in the region by Islamic State militants, a senior U.S. naval officer said on Monday. Vice Admiral John Miller, Commander of U.S. Naval Central Command, told a conference in Abu Dhabi that a "robust" U.S. and international maritime presence was helping to minimise threats to oil-producing countries in the region. "As dynamic as the region is today, what we have seen over the past years is the maritime atmosphere has been safe, the free flow of commerce has been stable and secure," said Miller, also Commander of U.S. 5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces.
NNS Voluntary Builders Hand Over 12th Charitable Home
Huntington Ingalls Industries inform that its Newport News Shipbuilding division joined elected officials and business and community leaders to dedicate the 12th home shipyard volunteers have constructed in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. Among the well-wishers who welcomed Jeremiah and Crystal Lamberty and their children to their new home were Rep. Bobby Scott; State Sen. John Miller; Cathy McQuade, president-elect, Habitat for Humanity board of directors; Karen Joyner, CEO, Virginia Peninsula Food Bank; and Michael Lee, vice president, United Steelworkers Local 8888. Carolyn Pittman, Newport News Shipbuilding's vice president and chief financial officer, spoke on behalf of the shipyard.
Middle East Maritime Security: Cooperation is the Key Vital
Vice Adm. John Miller, U.S. Navy, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) , spoke to delegates attending the IQPC Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Middle East 2013 conference just after participating in the 8th International Institute For Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue to discuss the development and implementation of regional security and provided a platform for leaders from more than 30 countries to engage in inter-governmental dialogue on sensitive regional issues.
US & China Join in Counter-piracy Exercises
The guided-missile destroyer 'USS Mason' (DDG 87) personnel participated in a counter piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden with elements of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA(N)), aboard the destroyer 'Harbin' and Chinese auxiliary replenishment oiler Weishanhu (AO 887). Mason joined Chinese destroyer Harbin (DDG 112) and Chinese auxiliary replenishment oiler Weishanhu (AO 887) to conduct a series of evolutions including combined visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS), live-fire proficiency, and aviation operations to enhance bilateral interoperability in the U.S.
USS Constellation Retires After 42 Years
'America's Flagship', USS Constellation (CV 64) was decommissioned Aug. 6 after 41 years, nine months and 11 days of naval service in a ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island. Former President Ronald Reagan presented a Presidential Flag to the ship in 1981, and tagged Constellation with the nickname 'America's Flagship.' Coincidentally, the newly commissioned USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) will replace Constellation when it arrives in San Diego next summer. Lt.j.g. Jenny Krug, combat systems division officer, has been on the crew of a precommissioning unit (PCU), but never part of a decommissioning crew. "It's really interesting working the opposite side of a PCU," said Krug.
