Kosovo News

The U.S. Navy decommissioned the mine countermeasures ship USS Champion (MCM 4) during a ceremony at Naval Base San Diego on Tuesday.Due to public health safety and restrictions of large public events related to the novel coronavirus pandemic, plankowners and former crew members of the Avenger-class ship virtually celebrated its distinguished history.Commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, Rear Adm. Scott Robertson was the guest speaker, with Capt. Hank Kim…

U.K. Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced the name of one of the new Type 26 warships: HMS Cardiff. The third to be named in the City Class of eight brand new antisubmarine warfare frigates, HMS Cardiff – due to enter service in the 2020s – will provide protection for the likes of the U.K.’s nuclear deterrent and Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, and offer antisubmarine warfare capability. The Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates are being built at the Clyde shipyards in Scotland…

BMT has appointed Guy Tomlinson as Group Capability and Strategy Director. Tomlinson joins BMT from QinetiQ where he led a 35-strong business development team as UK Sales Director. He brings to the role experience from across the maritime, defense, cyber and information and training domains, as well as leading on several sales and business development transformation programs. Prior to joining QinetiQ, Tomlinson served in the Royal Air Force for 23 years as an engineer officer, with operational tours in Iraq, Kosovo and the Falkland Islands.

Vice Adm. Mary M. Jackson relieved Vice Adm. Dixon R. Smith at a change of command ceremony for Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) March 31, at the Washington Navy Yard. The ceremony included the presentation of colors by the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard color guard, national anthem by the U.S. Navy Band and remarks from guest speaker, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. "While here, I've witnessed firsthand the tremendous dedication of our civilians and Sailors who support the fleet, warfighters and their families," said Smith. Smith served as the head of the Navy's entire shore infrastructure for approximately two and a half years and was the fifth commander of CNIC since the command's inception in 2003.

Turkey imposed a tax this week on imports of thermal coal from Colombia, Russia and other major exporters, for use in power generation, to support domestic coal production. The Turkish cabinet decided to impose the tax of $15/tonne on imports from the United States, Colombia, Russia and South Africa on July 18 and announced it in the Official Gazette this week. The tax hits the biggest exporters of thermal coal but does not apply to imports from the European Union, Israel, Macedonia, Bosnia, Morocco, West Bank, Tunisia, Egypt, Georgia, Albania, Jordan, Chile, Serbia, Kosovo, South Korea, Mauritius and Malaysia, the government said. The levy is equal to around a quarter of the current month's physical South African coal price of around $63.65 a tonne.

A hydrogen tank exploded at Kosovo's second biggest power plant on Friday, killing two people and injuring 14, officials said. The 40-year-old Kosovo A plant, considered one of the worst polluters in Europe, was shut down following the blast that was heard in the capital, Pristina, some 10 km (6 miles) away. The explosion threatened electricity supplies in a country already plagued by blackouts. Power imports were increased to cover demand. "We have found two bodies," Edmond Nulleshi, a manager at the Kosovo's Energy Corporation (KEK), told Reuters. Local television footage showed soldiers rescuing a worker who had been trapped in the building for more than five hours. An investigation has been launched into the incident.

1882-At 2: 30 a.m., during the prevalence of a strong southerly gale upon Lake Huron, the schooner, Colonel Hathaway, lying at the wharf at South Harrisville, MI was wrenched from her moorings and driven ashore. The morning was intensely dark and rain fell in torrents, but the schooner drove so far up on the beach that her crew of five men found no difficulty in saving themselves without aid. While drifting in, she collided with the schooner Garibaldi, she too broke adrift and drove ashore. The crew of this vessel, five in number, were equally fortunate in getting ashore without trouble. Word being sent about noon to the life-saving station at Sturgeon Point (No.

1882-At 2: 30 a.m., during the prevalence of a strong southerly gale upon Lake Huron, the schooner, Colonel Hathaway, lying at the wharf at South Harrisville, MI was wrenched from her moorings and driven ashore. The morning was intensely dark and rain fell in torrents, but the schooner drove so far up on the beach that her crew of five men found no difficulty in saving themselves without aid. While drifting in, she collided with the schooner Garibaldi, she too broke adrift and drove ashore. The crew of this vessel, five in number, were equally fortunate in getting ashore without trouble. Word being sent about noon to the life-saving station at Sturgeon Point (No.

Charles G. Mr. Fighter...The Way Ahead" at a meeting of the U. Management Command¹s 599th Transportation Group, U.S. Pacific Command. Change is never easy ... said. in the private sector only hope to accomplish as well. service to your customers. Mr. geopolitical changes in our world. greater, and continues to grow ... air. the war to reach our country. "Today, moms don¹t shout when they call the family to dinner ... instant message everyone. early 1990s. Now, over 600 billion e-mail messages are sent each year. competitive advantage," said Raymond.

The President is proposing a much needed, and long overdue increase of $49 billion in his fiscal year 2003 budget for National Defense. What is astonishing is that this larger budget proposes slashing the Navy's shipbuilding procurement account below that recommended by the previous Administration. Why is this astonishing? If it were not for ships of the Navy and Marine Corps, the U.S. would not have been able to defend America from additional attacks from the air and sea, or retaliate in Afghanistan after the September 11 attack on New York and Washington, D.C. Long before the terrorist attacks, the commanders-in-chief (CINCs) of the…

The ultra competitive Greek ferry market has not only proven to be a fertile breeding ground for advanced marine technology, it has served as a role model for the direction of shipping services in both the region and the world. The Greek market has provided the collective builders and suppliers of advanced fast and conventional ferries a rich environment for business over the past few months, a trend that seems likely to continue. Specifically, Greek owners and operators have been at the forefront of an international buying binge for large, fast passenger, vehicle and cargo carrying craft. Driven by the need for speed, many owners are turning to advances in marine electronic and propulsion systems to ensure that the multi-million dollar investments are kept running safe and efficient.

Ukraine's Danube Shipping Company lost $110 million due to military action in Yugoslavia last year that destroyed bridges and blocked traffic along the Danube, transport minister Leonid Kostyuchenko said. NATO launched air strikes last year on Yugoslavia, which it accused of ethnic cleansing in the province of Kosovo, densely populated by ethnic Albanians. Kostyuchenko said collapsed bridges had blocked 63 Ukrainian ships on upper stretches of the Danube. Due to the disruption of the shipping, Ukraine's Danube ports were now working at just 40 percent of capacity, he said. This is not the first time Ukrainian companies suffer from problems in Yugoslavia.

Armed Canadian sailors seized control of the U.S.-owned ship GTS Katie last week after a high-seas standoff in which hundreds of millions of dollars of Canadian military equipment had effectively been held hostage. The Ukrainian captain of the Katie engaged the ship in violent maneuvers as a Sea King helicopter sought to drop the sailors by cable on deck to take over the vessel in the North Atlantic, the commander of the naval operation reported. But within 50 minutes the Canadians had grabbed full control, with no injuries to sailors or the crew of the ship, which had been embroiled in a bitter commercial dispute between its owner and the Canadian firm that chartered the vessel.

Armed Canadian sailors seized control of the U.S.-owned ship GTS Katie on Thursday after a high-seas standoff in which hundreds of millions of dollars of Canadian military equipment had effectively been held hostage. The Ukrainian captain of the Katie reportedly engaged the ship in violent maneuvers as a Sea King helicopter sought to drop the sailors by cable on deck to take over the vessel in the North Atlantic, the commander of the naval operation reported. But within 50 minutes the Canadians had grabbed full control, with no injuries to sailors or the crew of the ship, which had been embroiled in a bitter commercial dispute between its owner and the Canadian firm that chartered the vessel.

Two Canadian warships have pulled alongside a transport ship carrying hundreds of Canadian army vehicles home from Kosovo to send a message to its U.S. owners to stop delaying the voyage and proceed to port. But the owners, who say they are not being paid by the contractor that hired them, said on Tuesday they intend to keep the ship, the GTS Katie, at large until their bitter commercial dispute is ended. "I guess she's going to stay at anchor until we get an agreement," said Flip Walters, chief executive of the Katie's owners, Third Ocean Marine Navigation. The Katie is now anchored 86 nautical miles south of Newfoundland's southeastern tip.

Celebrity Cruises canceled summer port calls at Haifa, Israel, by its Millennium ship, saying the itinerary change was meant to ease passenger fears about political violence in the region. Miami-based Celebrity, a unit of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said the 2,040-passenger Millennium will instead stop at Limassol, Cyprus, on five, 12-night cruises beginning on May 31. Limassol, with 10 miles of coastline, is the second-largest city on Cyprus. "This change is designed to ease any concerns our guests may have about safety in that area, while continuing to satisfy their interest in exciting ports of call, such as Limassol," Celebrity President Rick Sasso said in a news release.

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Civil Penalties Enforcement Information

The Danube will remain blocked by bombed Yugoslav bridges through the winter, with the cost of removal estimated at as much as $31.5 million, the Danube Commission announced, adding that private shippers are racking up losses far in excess of these figures. "Environmental damage of considerable consequence goes far beyond what it would cost the international community to clear the bridges and re-establish navigation," Hellmuth Strasser, head of the commission's secretariat, said. He added that re-establishing the river's shipping is the most difficult task the Danube Commission has faced since World War II. Experts estimate it will cost between $15.8 and $31.5 million to remove bridges bombed by NATO during its air campaign against Yugoslavia, Strasser said.

"MSC has been conspicuous because its people and ships generally have been where the action has been." Rear Adm. Rear Adm. Keener made this observation on the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command's 30th anniversary in October 1979. His words still hold true 20 years later as MSC, the ocean transportation specialists for the Department of Defense, celebrates its 50th anniversary. Today, MSC operates about 120 ships worldwide with 100 more ships in reserve status. What sets MSC ships apart from other Navy ships is all MSC ships are crewed by civil service or contract merchant mariners instead of active duty Navy people. Using civilian crews frees active duty Navy personnel for more traditional war-fighting assignments. MSC ships wear many hats for DOD.

Norwegian cruise company NCL Holding ASA said on Wednesday pre-tax profits almost doubled in the nine months to September 30 amid firm market sentiment and strong demand. The Miami-based company said third-quarter earnings were negatively affected by between $18 and $19 million due to accidents with two of its cruise liners and reduced demand in the Mediterranean due to the conflict in Kosovo. NCL posted pre-tax profits before extraordinary items of $36.18 million between January and September, up from $18.6 million in the same year-ago period. Operating profits edged lower to $64.3 million from $65.7 million, while revenues grew by 13 percent to $651.8 against $575.4 million.

Norwegian cruise company NCL Holding ASA said on Wednesday pre-tax profits almost doubled in the nine months to September 30 amid firm market sentiment and strong demand. The Miami-based company said third-quarter earnings were negatively affected by between $18 and $19 million due to accidents with two of its cruise liners and reduced demand in the Mediterranean due to the conflict in Kosovo. NCL posted pre-tax profits before extraordinary items of $36.18 million between January and September, up from $18.6 million in the same year-ago period. Operating profits edged lower to $64.3 million from $65.7 million, while revenues grew by 13 percent to $651.8 against $575.4 million.

NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson said that Serbia could not expect help to clear the Danube waterway of Kosovo war debris as long as Slobodan Milosevic remains president of Yugoslavia. Western reconstruction aid is barred as long as Milosevic is in power. But the Danube blockage is becoming acute as winter nears, with the threat of an ice buildup and flooding upstream. NATO-member Hungary and other Danube shipping states want to ease the no-aid policy so the river can be cleared at Novi Sad, in northwestern Serbia, before winter sets in. As NATO figures privately admit Milosevic is still firmly implanted, the Serbian opposition is urging the West to drop the blunt instrument of sanctions and help some reconstruction. But Robertson gave no sign concessions were being mooted.

"MSC has been conspicuous because its people and ships generally have been where the action has been." Rear Adm. Rear Adm. Keener made this observation on the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command's 30th anniversary in October 1979. His words still hold true 20 years later as MSC, the ocean transportation specialists for the Department of Defense, celebrates its 50th anniversary. Today, MSC operates about 120 ships worldwide with 100 more ships in reserve status. What sets MSC ships apart from other Navy ships is all MSC ships are crewed by civil service or contract merchant mariners instead of active duty Navy people. Using civilian crews frees active duty Navy personnel for more traditional war-fighting assignments. MSC ships wear many hats for DOD.