South Vietnam News

CMA CGM Marco Polo, the largest container ship in the world, docked at the major international seaport Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) in the southern Vietnamese province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, commencing a new weekly service to transfer cargo directly from Vietnam to Northern Europe.Important guests, including senior government officials will attended the vessel maiden call’s celebrations jointly organised by CMIT and CMA CGM at the Cai Mep terminal in Ba Ria Vung Tau Province.CMIT is a deep-sea container terminal and market leader for global ocean carriers serving the South Vietnamese economy. Since 2018, CMIT operates with a license to handle container vessels up to 194…

Oldendorff Carriers said it has signed an integrated coal transport and transhipment agreement for a new power station project to be built in the North of Vietnam at Nghi Son. The customer is a consortium between Marubeni Corp of Japan and Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) named Nghi Son 2 Power Limited Liability Company (NS2PC).The agreement is expected to include the transportation of about 100 million metric tons of coal over 25 years. Oldendorff Carriers signed the 25-year agreement with NS2PC…

1912 - The scout cruisers USS Chester (CL 1) and USS Salem (CL 3) sail from Massachusetts to assist RMS Titanic survivors, and escort RMS Carpathia, which carried the survivors of the Titanic, to New York. 1914 - USS New York (BB 34) is commissioned. 1918 - First Marine Aviation Force, under the command of Capt. Alfred A. Cunningham, USMC, is formed at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Fla. 1943 - USS Yorktown (CV 10) is commissioned. 1945 - USS Frost (DE 144) and USS Stanton (DE 247) join to attack and sink German submarine U 880 and then German sub U 1235, north of the Azores.

1778 - During the American Revolution, the Continental frigate Boston captures the British ship Martha in the North Atlantic. 1845 - George Bancroft takes office as the 17th Secretary of the Navy. Although he serves in that position only 18 months, he establishes the Naval Academy at Annapolis and encourages the growth and importance of the Naval Observatory. 1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act, which permits delivery of war materials to Allied Powers on credit or lease. 1942 - Lt. John Bulkeley, commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, helps Gen.

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the 14th Fast Response Cutter (FRC), Heriberto Hernandez, to the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The 154-foot patrol craft Heriberto Hernandez is the 14th vessel in the Coast Guard's Sentinel-class FRC program. To build the FRC, Bollinger used a proven, in-service parent craft design based on the Damen Stan Patrol Boat 4708. It has a flank speed of 28 knots, state of the art command, control, communications and computer technology, and a stern launch system for the vessel’s 26 foot cutter boat.

Vietnamese and Philippine troops played soccer and sang karaoke on a South China Sea island on Wednesday in a sign of the growing security ties between the two Southeast Asian nations most at odds with Beijing over the contested waterway. Cooperation has blossomed between Hanoi and Manila since they shelved decades of enmity over their competing claims in the Spratly archipelago to try to counter China, whose creation of artificial islands in the region will allow it to project power deep into the maritime heart of Southeast Asia. Senior Philippine naval officials said soccer and volleyball games were being played on the Philippine-held island of Northeast Cay.

SapuraKencana Petroleum Berhad today announced that it has entered into Sale and Purchase Agreements to acquire the entire interest of PETRONAS in 3 blocks offshore south Vietnam (Blocks 01/97 & 02/97, Blocks 10&11.1, Block 46-CN) for a total purchase price of US$400 million. The economic effective date of the transaction is January 1, 2014 and SapuraKencana is entitled to net revenues from these Blocks from that date. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary condition precedents including the approval of relevant government authorities. SapuraKencana was selected as the winning bidder through an international and professionally managed competitive bidding process.

Territorial disputes over tiny islands and reefs in the South China Sea are poisoning relations between China and its neighbours in Southeast Asia. "In recent months, China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told an audience in Singapore last month. "(China) has restricted access to Scarborough Reef, put pressure on the long-standing Philippine presence at the Second Thomas Shoal, begun land reclamation activities at multiple locations, and moved an oil rig into disputed waters near the Paracel Islands," Hagel complained at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Today in U.S. 1918 - First Marine Aviation Force formed at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Fla. 1961 - Launching of first nuclear-powered frigate, USS Bainbridge, at Quincy, Mass. 1962 - USS Princeton brought first Marine helicopters to Vietnam. This was first Marine advisory unit to arrive in South Vietnam. 1986 - Operation Eldorado Canyon, Navy aircraft from USS America (CV-66) and USS Coral Sea (CV-43) attack Libya in conjunction with USAF aircraft after Libya linked to terrorist bombing of West Berlin discotheque which killed one American and injured 78 people.

Philippine navy will soon return to a South China Sea island it lost to Vietnam 40 years ago to drink beer and play volleyball with Vietnamese sailors, symbolising how once-suspicious neighbours are cooperating in the face of China's assertiveness in disputed waters. Diplomats and experts describe the nascent partnership as part of a web of evolving relationships across Asia that are being driven by fear of China as well as doubts among some, especially in Japan, over the U.S. commitment to the region. When U.S. President Barack Obama visits Asia this month he will see signs that once-disparate nations are strategising for the future, even though he will likely seek to shore-up faith in America's "pivot" back to the region.

Today in U.S. Naval History - April 10 1941 - USS Niblack, while rescuing survivors of torpedoed ship, depth charged German submarine; first action of WW II between U.S. and German navies 1963 - During diving tests, USS Thresher lost with all hands (112 crew and 17 civilians) east of Cape Cod, Mass. 1966 - River Patrol Boats of River Patrol Force commenced operations on inland waters of South Vietnam For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

The Philippine navy will soon return to a South China Sea island it lost to Vietnam 40 years ago to drink beer and play volleyball with Vietnamese sailors, symbolizing how once-suspicious neighbors are cooperating in the face of China's assertiveness in disputed waters. Diplomats and experts describe the nascent partnership as part of a web of evolving relationships across Asia that are being driven by fear of China as well as doubts among some, especially in Japan, over the U.S. commitment to the region. When U.S. President Barack Obama visits Asia this month he will see signs that once-disparate nations are strategizing for the future, even though he will likely seek to shore-up faith in America's "pivot" back to the region.

Today in U.S. Naval History - March 11 1935 - Birth of Naval Security Group when OP-20G became the Communications Security Group 1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Lend-Lease Act 1942 - In a PT boat, Lt. Cdr. John Bulkeley leaves the Philippines to take General Douglas MacArthur to Australia 1945 - Use of first Navy landing craft to cross Rhine River at Bad Neuenahr 1965 - Market Time patrols begin off South Vietnam coast For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Today in U.S. 1800 - USS Essex becomes first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the Equator. 1815 - The Board of Naval Commissioners, a group of senior officers, is established to oversee the operation and maintenance of the Navy, under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. 1965 - In response to a Viet Cong attack on barracks area at Pleiku, South Vietnam, aircraft from carriers, USS Coral Sea, USS Hancock, and USS Ranger attack North Vietnamese area near Donghoi. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Today in U.S. 1812 - U.S. sloop of war Wasp captures HM brig Frolic. 1859 - U.S. Marines reach Harper's Ferry, Va. and assault the arsenal seized by John Brown and his followers. 1867 - USS Ossippee and USS Resaca participate in formal transfer of Alaska to U.S. authority at Sitka and remain to enforce law and order in new territory. 1944 - Third Fleet Carrier aircraft attack Japanese ships in harbor and land forces around Manila. 1968 - In Operation Sea Lords, the Navy's three major operating forces in Vietnam (TF 115, 116, and 117) are brought together for the first time to stop Vietcong infiltration deep into South Vietnam's Mekong Delta. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Sunday, July 14 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gerald R. Ford, 38th president of the United States. This was an important historical milestone for the country because of President Ford’s exceptional legacy of service, but also an important historical milestone for the Navy as we fittingly get ready to christen and launch the first of our next generation of aircraft carriers, the Gerald R. Ford class with the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Former President Ford was born in 1913, around the time of Eugene Ely’s pioneering flights aboard USS Birmingham and USS Pennsylvania.

Maritime Museum of San Diego to ceremonially welcome Vietnam War-era Swift Boat P24, September 18, 2012, restoration work to follow. The event, to be attended by 35 Swift Boat Veterans and Mayor Jerry Sanders, among other dignitaries, takes place at the Museum located at 1492 Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego. It marks the first public appearance of the vessel acquired in July from the Republic of Malta. P24 was originally donated by the United States Navy to Malta’s Maritime Squadron in 1971. It continued in service to that country until being retired in 2010.

Maritime Museum of San Diego acquires Vietnam war-era vessel for restoratation, appeals for donations. The Maritime Museum of San Diego announces the acquisition of a Vietnam War-era Swift Boat from the Republic of Malta for renovation and permanent display in San Diego. Formally called Patrol Craft Fast (PCF), the United States Navy’s PCFs were first put into service in 1965 when American sailors used them to patrol the coastline of South Vietnam to prevent sea infiltration of soldiers and munitions from North Vietnam.

From the Navy News Service:   1854 - Commodore Matthew Perry opens treaty negotiations with Japan. 1862 - Ironclad ram CSS Virginia destroys USS Cumberland and USS Congress. 1945 - Phyllis Daley, assigned to the Navy Nurse Corps, becomes the first African-American ensign. 1958 - Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB 64) is decommissioned, leaving the Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1895. 1965 - The 7th Fleet lands the first major Marine Corps units in South Vietnam at Danang.   For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

1854 - Adm. Matthew Calbraith Perry anchors off Yokosuka, Japan, to receive the Japanese Emperor’s reply to a treaty proposal. 1913 - Naval Radio Station, Arlington, Va., begins operations. 1945 - Naval units enter Manila Bay for the first time since 1942. 1968 - Operation Coronado XI begins in Mekong Delta, South Vietnam.   For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil

1800 - USS Essex becomes the first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the equator. 1815 - The Board of Naval Commissioners, a group of senior officers, is established to oversee the operation and maintenance of the Navy under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. 1955 - Ships from the 7th Fleet begin the evacuation of Chinese nationalists from the Tachen Islands. 1965 - In response to a Viet Cong attack on a U.S. barracks area in Pleiku, South Vietnam, aircraft from carriers USS Coral Sea (CV 43), USS Hancock (CV 19) and USS Ranger (CV 61) attack a North Vietnamese area near Donghoi. 1991 - Using her remotely piloted vehicle for spotting, USS Wisconsin (BB 64) pounds Iraqi artillery, electronic warfare and naval sites with her 16-inch guns.

1885 - Naval forces land at Panama to protect American interests during revolution   1912 - USS Chester and USS Salem sailed from MA to assist RMS Titanic survivors   1918 - First Marine Aviation Force formed at Marine Flying Field, Miami, FL   1961 - Launching of first nuclear-powered frigate, USS Bainbridge, at Quincy, MA   1962 - USS Princeton brought first Marine helicopters to Vietnam. This was first Marine advisory unit to arrive in South Vietnam.   1986 - Operation Eldorado Canyon, Navy aircraft from USS America (CV-66) and USS Coral Sea (CV-43) attack Libya in conjunction with USAF aircraft after Libya linked to terrorist bombing of West Berlin discotheque which killed 1 American and injured 78 people.   (Source: Navy News Service)

1935 - Birth of Naval Security Group when OP-20G became the Communications Security Group   1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Lend-Lease Act   1942 - In a PT boat, LCDR John Bulkeley leaves the Philippines to take General Douglas MacArthur to Australia   1945 - Use of first Navy landing craft to cross Rhine River at Bad Neuenahr   1965 - Market Time patrols begin off South Vietnam coast   (Source: Navy News Service)