Multinational Force News

Maersk and CMA CGM, two of the world's largest shipping firms, will impose extra charges after deciding to re-route ships following attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as worries about the disruption to global trade grow.The surcharges, designed to cover longer voyages around Africa compared with routes via the Suez Canal, will add to rising costs for sea transport since Yemen's Houthi militant group started targeting vessels.Maersk and CMA CGM are among leading shipping lines to have suspended the passage of vessels through the Red Sea that connects with the key Suez Canal…

The leader of Yemen's Houthis warned on Wednesday they would strike U.S. warships if the Iranian-backed militia was targeted by Washington, which this week set up a multinational force to counter Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.The Houthis, which control vast amounts of territory in Yemen after years of war, have since last month fired drones and missiles at international vessels sailing through the Red Sea, attacks it says respond to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.The U.S.-led security initiative will see Washington and ten other…

Remote-controlled cameras will take over responsibility from U.S.-led peacekeepers for ensuring international shipping retains freedom of access to the Gulf of Aqaba, whose coastline is shared by Israel and three Arab nations, officials said.Tiran island, which lies in the straits of the same name at the mouth of the gulf, was handed to Saudi Arabia from Egypt along with next-door Sanafir island in 2017.During a visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia last week, U.S. President Joe Biden…

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Melbourne is returning home to Australia after completing more than 50 boarding operations and seizing almost a tonne of heroin during a Middle Eastern deployment. The guided missile frigate handed over maritime security responsibilities to sister ship, HMAS Darwin, after five months of operations in support of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and more than six months away from home. Commander Bill Waters, Commanding Officer of Melbourne, commended the ship’s company of 223 officers and sailors for their commitment and efforts that ensured a successful deployment. “During the five months on operations we confiscated and destroyed 977 kilograms of high grade heroin seized from five different vessels suspected of smuggling illegal narcotics,” he said.

In its sixth haul in eight weeks, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Newcastle seized 139kg of heroin, with an estimated street value of around $41 million AUD ($30.5 million USD), off the East coast of Africa. Under the auspices of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the latest haul brings the Australian Navy’s total seizures in the Middle East region over the last two years to an estimated street value of $2.3 billion AUD (approximately $1.7 billion USD). The Chief of Joint Operations…

Twenty-three nations, 47 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled June 26 to Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series that began in 1971. Hosted by U.S.

U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs informs that 47 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and altogether 25,000 personnel from 23 nations, will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled June 26 to Aug. 1, 2014 in and around the Hawaiian Islands. Two nations, Brunei and the People's Republic of China, will participate in RIMPAC for the first time in 2014. Also new at RIMPAC this year are two hospital ships, USNS Mercy and PLA (N) Peace Ark. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.

The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. RIMPAC 2012 will feature the first demonstration of a U.S. Navy "Great Green Fleet," during which U.S. surface combatants and carrier-based aircraft will test, evaluate and demonstrate the cross-platform utility and functionality of biofuels.

On April 14, in a ceremony held at the Commercial Port of Djibouti, Portuguese Commodore Alberto Correia took over the command of Task Force 465 (TF 465) as the new European Union Naval Force Headquarters – Operation ATALANTA Force Commander. Commodore Correia takes over the duty from his predecessor, Spanish Rear Admiral Juan Rodriguez. During the handover, presided over by EU NAVFOR Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, Commodore Correia congratulated Rear Admiral Rodriguez for the results achieved during his command and thanked him for his outstanding efforts. He emphasized that ”The mission priorities given to TF 465 are absolutely clear to me.

At a ceremony in Djibouti on board the EU NAVFOR Swedish warship, HSwMS Carlkrona, Force Commander Rear Admiral (LH) Jan Thörnqvist who has been the Force Commander of EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA for the last four months, handed over to Rear Admiral Philippe Coindreau of France. He will lead the multinational Force Headquarters onboard the EU NAVFOR French warship De Grasse for the next four months. On Saturday 14 August the hand over took place on board HSwMS Carlskrona and the Commanders exchanged information regarding Operation ATALANTA.

At 1200 GMT, Wednesday April 14, the Italian Rear Admiral Giovanni Gumiero relinquished command of Task Force 465, the EU Naval Force Somalia - Operation Atalanta. The Swedish Rear Admiral Jan Thörnqvist took over command and the multinational Force Headquarters will now operate from the EU NAVFOR HSwMS Carlskrona. "Operation Atalanta is, and will continue to be, a very important operation, foremost from a humanitarian perspective. Our military effort will therefore contribute to generate relief for those who suffer in Somalia and security for seafarers sailing the waters off Somalia," admiral Thörnqvist said.

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Josh Cassatt, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet and Royal Australian Navy Commodore Allan du Toit, commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 158, visited Iraq's Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) Nov. 16, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the implementation of facility upgrades. The most significant improvement on KAAOT was the installation of the Tactical Operations Center (TOC), which will serve as a permanent centralized command and control location to enhance Coalition coordination.

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Barrie Barber, U.S. PANAMA CITY, Panama (NNS) -- Nineteen nations have combined military and civil forces in Fuerzas Alidas PANAMAX 2007, a U.S. Southern Command joint and multinational exercise Aug. 29-Sept. 7, to ensure the continued security of the Panama Canal. The U.S. Navy and participating nations have deployed 30 vessels, a dozen aircraft and more than 7,000 personnel in cooperation with Panama, which maintains the historic canal as a neutral waterway that is crucial to global maritime commerce and peace and prosperity in the region. “This year’s PANAMAX is a truly amazing exercise,” said Brig. Gen. Manuel Ortiz, deputy commanding general of U.S. Army South who spoke at an opening ceremony Aug. 29. Vice Adm.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Alexia M. USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) arrived in Vasco Nunez de Balboa on Aug. 25 after completing a series of theater security cooperation events with Central American partner nations during Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007. While in Panama, Pearl Harbor and other POA units participated in a joint and multinational training Exercise, PANAMAX 2007, tailored to the defense and security of the Panama Canal. “PANAMAX provides realistic training opportunities for forces operating in multinational environments,” said Cmdr. Victor Cooper, Pearl Harbor commanding officer. Sea, ground and air force personnel and observers from 20 countries…

Rear Adm. Garry E. Hall relieved Royal Navy Commodore Nick Lambert as commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158 and Capt. Paul Severs relieved Royal Navy Capt. Bob Sanguinetti as commander of Combined Task Group (CTG) 158.1 on July 17 aboard Ocean 6, an afloat forward operating barge in the north Persian Gulf. Command of CTF 158 typically rotates among coalition partners Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States. CTF 158 is comprised of coalition ships and its primary mission in the Gulf is maintaining security in and around both the Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminals -- ABOT and KAAOT, respectively -- in support of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1723.

The Argentine supply ship ARA Patagonia (B 1) participates in exercises alongside dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) to mark the beginning of UNITAS. Navies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain and the United States are participating in UNITAS Atlantic 48-2007 from May 2-13 off the coast of Argentina. UNITAS is a combined South American- and U.S.-sponsored annual exercise that incorporates forces from several participating nations. Argentina is hosting this year’s Atlantic phase. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lenny M. By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Holly Boynton, U.S. Commander, Task Force Four Three (CTF 43) provided supply support to numerous U.S. and partner nation naval ships during a recent exercise off the coast of Argentina.

As the sun-sets over the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT), another day passes safely under the watchful eye of masters-at-arms assigned to Mobile Security Detachment Two Five (MSD-25). MSD-25 members are currently training the Iraqi military on proper watch standing and security procedures during their six-month deployment to the Iraqi oil terminals. Mobile Security Detachment Two Five is combining efforts with coalition forces under the flag of Commander Task Force Five Eight (CTF-58) in support of maritime security operations (MSO) by standing security watches on KAAOT and Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT). U.S. From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Two U.S.

Sailors aboard dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) man the rails as a tugboat assigned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor guides the ship into Pearl Harbor. USS Pearl Harbor is currently in port to honor those who valiantly fought to defend the island of Oahu during the attack on December 7, 1941. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) departed Naval Station San Diego on March 28 to begin their role in a U.S. Navy Task Group conducting Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007. POA 2007 is a U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command deployment designed to support the U.S. Southern Command…