Hms Bulwark News

Almost 3,600 migrants have been rescued from overcrowded boats sailing from Africa to Europe over the past 48 hours, Italy said on Thursday, with sea conditions seen as perfect for attempting the crossing. As more than 600 migrants were brought ashore at the port of Catania in Sicily, rescuers plucked another 2,500 from rickety boats off the coast of Libya, the coast guard said. Most of those who arrived in Catania had been picked up by the British warship HMS Bulwark and were Somali and Nigerian, port officials said. With Libya engulfed in strife, people smugglers are increasingly free to pack migrants onto unsafe boats, and they are expected to push total arrivals in Italy for 2015 to 200,000, an increase of 30,000 on last year, according to an Interior Ministry projection.

Independent safety supplier Ocean Safety has been awarded a four year contract with the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense (MOD). This contract will see Ocean Safety continue to supply, service and repair their commercial liferafts and DBC marine evacuation systems. Direct support will be given to the Royal Navy’s current flagship HMS Bulwark and to the new fleet of Type 45 destroyers which are based in Portsmouth. This ongoing support will be primarily given at Ocean Safety’s Southampton branch…

More than 3,000 sailors & Royal Marines are geared up for a three-month deployment to the Mediterranean. 'Cougar 12', which begins later this month, will see four warships, one amphibious support ship, a giant ro-ro ferry/transporter, three commando units and helicopters and personnel from eight Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps squadrons committed to the three-month deployment – in all more than 3,000 sailors, Royal Marines, soldiers and airmen. They will take part in two large…

The crew of 'HMS Bulwark' serves as hub in Portland Harbour for the security effort surrounding the Paralympic sailing events. The assault ship serves as the command and control centre for maritime security operations around Portland for the duration of the Paralympic Games. From her operations room, Bulwark directs the movements of Royal Marines raiding craft, patrol boats and civilian launches and boats, fed by live imagery of the waters around Weymouth by special cameras fitted to Fleet Air Arm Merlin helicopters on patrol overhead.

WHILE Royal Navy ships protect the London Olympics others have rushed to prevent a pirate attack in the Middle East. The minehunters HMS Middleton and HMS Pembroke were in the Gulf of Aden on their way home when they received a distress call from the MV New Delhi Express on July 27th. The 40,000-tonne merchant ship, laden with valuable containers, contacted HMS Middleton to say she was 12 miles to the south west and had suffered an engine failure. That meant she was an easy target for the pirates who operate in the gulf between Somalia and Yemen.

Wärtsilä Corporation has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence to supply four diesel generating sets for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel "Fort Austin". output of 1290 kWe at 900 rpm. These sets will replace the existing outfit of eight smaller, faster-running sets. The new sets will be delivered by Wärtsilä in January 2004, and installed during the ship's forthcoming refit. for greater reliability and reduced maintenance, thereby lowering the overall costs. engine. She carries ammunition and other stores for replenishing Royal Navy warships at sea. more than 20 ships in the civilian-manned RFA fleet supplying RN warships at sea with stores and fuel. They operate world-wide. This is the latest in a series of contracts concerning RN and RFA ships awarded to Wärtsilä.

A&P Birkenhead Ltd, part of the A&P Group, has been awarded the contract for the ‘pre-acceptance’ drydocking of BAE Systems’ newbuild HMS Bulwark (L15) prior to its delivery to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). The vessel is due to arrive in Birkenhead during early June this year (2004). Whilst in drydock, work will include final removal of the hull launch ‘poppets’ and complete coating of its underwater hull, plus other work as required by BAE Systems. In order to achieve the high standards of paintwork required for the vessel, the hull is to be covered under a special containment system, which will provide protection from the weather and allows heating to be applied to suit the coating application should the climatic conditions not achieve specified requirements.

Wynn Marine has been awarded the contract to supply the Window Wiper Equipment for two Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) landing ships currently under construction at the Swan Hunter shipyard in the UK. The ships are expected to enter service in 2004 and 2005. Wynn will be supplying 30 of its new Type D Mk III Straight Line Wipers to each new landing ship, which will be controlled by the Series 3000 Network Control System. The Type D MKIII is the latest heavy duty externally mounted motor straight-line wiper development from Wynn’s Ocean Range. The Series 3000 Network Controller is modular, allowing flexibility to manage a fully functional window wiper system with integral wash and air purge.

Wynn Marine has been awarded the contract to supply the Window Wiper Equipment for two Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) landing ships currently under construction at the Swan Hunter shipyard in the UK. The ships are expected to enter service in 2004 and 2005. Control System. The Type D MKIII is the latest heavy duty externally mounted motor straight-line wiper development from Wynn’s Ocean Range. The Series 3000 Network Controller is modular, allowing flexibility to manage a fully functional window wiper system with integral wash and air purge. The system also controls wiper and bridge window heaters from a conveniently positioned control location.