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HMS Lancaster Refit Nears Completion

August 15, 2019 seawaves

August 15, 2019 – One hundred and twenty-nine crew of the Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster have moved back on board the ship, breathing new life into the 4,500-ton warship following a two year overhaul in Devonport. Known as the ‘Red Rose’, HMS Lancaster – whose sponsor is Her Majesty The Queen in her role as Duke of Lancaster – has undergone extensive upgrades mirroring the major changes across the frigate flotilla, such as the new Artisan 3D radar, improved navigational radar and new-generation Sea Ceptor missile system as the…

USCGC Escanaba Returns to Boston after Caribbean Patrol

July 11, 2019 seawaves

July 11, 2019 – Escanaba returned to Boston Thursday following a three-month patrol conducting drug and migrant interdiction operations in the Caribbean Sea. Throughout the patrol, Escanaba’s crew focused their efforts on law enforcement, completed a three-week training assessment of mission capabilities in Portsmouth, Virginia, and held a change-of-command ceremony. Escanaba’s crew partnered with Customs and Border Patrol within the Mona Passage for migrant interdiction operations. Crews terminated three illegal migrant ventures and repatriated more than 100 migrants. The crew’s counter-narcotics efforts resulted in the disruption of more than 5,500…

Norfolk Naval Shipyard Dedicates Submarine Maintenance Facility

June 20, 2019 seawaves

June 18, 2019 – Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) dedicated its new Submarine Maintenance Facility June 14. The dedication marked the next crucial step in the NNSY’s realization of the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan that will enhance the ability of the four public shipyards to meet the mission of delivering ships back to the fleet on time and within budget. The new facility consolidates submarine maintenance, production and support shops into a single facility adjacent to NNSY’s submarine drydocks and piers. This two-story structure features shops, storage and support spaces on…

Ike Returns to Sea Following Planned Incremental Availability

March 28, 2019March 28, 2019 seawaves

March 28, 2019 – USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) returned to sea March 28 following a scheduled planned incremental availability (PIA) during which the ship received innovative upgrades. One of the upgrades of note was the installation of the NULKA decoy system. “A disciplined and thoughtful approach to the basics brought us here,” said Capt. Kyle Higgins, Ike’s commanding officer of seeing the ship get underway. “We’ve been training for this for quite some time and invested a tremendous amount of sweat along the way. The hard work every…

Coast Guard Cutter Tampa Returns Home After Inderdicting $240 million in Drugs

March 25, 2019 seawaves

March 25 2019 – Coast Guard Cutter Tampa returned to Portsmouth Monday following a successful 85-day counter-narcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During their patrol off the coasts of Central and South America, Tampa’s crew successfully interdicted approximately 18,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated wholesale value of $240 million. The Coast Guard increased U.S. and allied presence in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Basin, which are known drug transit zones off Central and South America, as part of its Western Hemisphere Strategy. During at-sea interdictions in international…

NNSY Welcomes USS George H.W. Bush for Dry-docking Planned Incremental Availability

February 21, 2019February 21, 2019 seawaves

February 21, 2019 – USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), Feb. 21, for a 28-month dry-docking planned incremental availability (DPIA). Dry-docking and maintaining a 103,000 ton, 1,092-foot aircraft carrier is complex work. This DPIA marks the first time George H.W. Bush has not been waterborne since 2006. Requiring an estimated 1.3 million man-days, it will be the most extensive maintenance period for the ship yet and one of the most complex CVN chief of naval operations availabilities in recent NNSY history. The shipyard workforce…

Babcock opens new facility to support key MOD contract

January 23, 2019 seawaves

January 22, 2019 – Babcock has opened a new office in Portsmouth in support of its critical five year Marine Systems Support Partner (MSSP) contract with the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD). Conveniently located close to the home of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet, the office opening coincided with MSSP’s first anniversary and highlights the collaboration across Babcock, the Royal Navy and the key support partners operating under the banner of Team Assure. Marked by a naming ceremony, Babcock representatives, Team Assure colleagues, Royal Navy and key stakeholders joined together…

HMS Westminster Home for Christmas

December 14, 2018December 14, 2018 seawaves

December 14, 2018 – HMS Westminster has returned home to Portsmouth in time for the festive season after spending eight weeks with multinational partners in colder climates. She departed Portsmouth on 15th October 2018 to head to Reykjavík in Iceland in preparation for Exercise Trident Juncture, the largest NATO exercise in nearly 30 years. Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 saw around 50,000 personnel from 31 Countries, including 61 ships, participating in exercises off the West Coast of Norway for a three-week period. The Commanding Officer, Commander Will Paston said, “The last…

Harry S Truman Departs Portsmouth

October 15, 2018 seawaves

October 11, 2018 – USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is heading back out to the North Atlantic after completing a four-day port visit in Portsmouth, England, Oct. 06-10. “Our Sailors were overwhelmed by the welcome we received across this beautiful isle,” said Commanding Officer Capt. Nick Dienna USN. “This visit was a phenomenal way to build on the long-standing partnership we have with our Royal Navy counterparts, as well as to forge new friendships with our gracious British hosts.” Having previously operated across the northern waters of both Second…

USS Farragut Visits Historic Portsmouth

October 10, 2018October 10, 2018 seawaves

October 10, 2018 – USS Farragut (DDG 99) arrived in Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Portsmouth, Oct. 6, as part of a scheduled port visit. Farragut’s presence is aimed towards enhancing U.S.-UK relations as the two nations work together for a stable, secure and prosperous Europe. The purpose of the ship’s visit is to demonstrate the enduring partnership and mutual commitment to regional security and stability. “As Farragut moors in Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, we not only have another opportunity to tour the beautiful country and immerse ourselves in…

Portsmouth Welcomes US Carrier for Port Visit

October 9, 2018 seawaves

October 8, 2018 – USS Harry S Truman has arrived into Portsmouth for a port visit while on deployment to the Mediterranean. Sister ship to the USS George W H Bush which arrived last summer, there are more than 5,000 personnel on board who will visit the city and take tours of the UK during their stay. The carrier most recently visited France and Greece and will continue with her program early this week. Arriving early Saturday morning into a foggy Solent, she has anchored off Stokes Bay near Gosport.…

HMS Diamond sails for maritime security mission in the Mediterranean

September 30, 2018 seawaves

September 29, 2018 – Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond has today sailed from Portsmouth for operations in the Mediterranean where the Type 45 destroyer will provide reassurance to allies in the region throughout the autumn. The deployment follows a busy few months for HMS Diamond and her crew, who spent most of the summer operating in or around UK waters. Commander Ben Keith, the Commanding Officer of HMS Diamond, said: “I’m thrilled that HMS Diamond is once again at sea on operations to keep our nation safe. I am proud…

HMS Dragon leaves Portsmouth for Persian Gulf

September 18, 2018 seawaves

September 18, 2018 – Portsmouth based HMS Dragon left her homeport today to embark on an operational deployment to the Persian Gulf. The Type 45 destroyer is scheduled to work alongside coalition and regional partners throughout her time away. She will be focused on providing regional maritime security, including counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling activities. Commander Michael Carter-Quinn, Commanding Officer of HMS Dragon, said, “Today’s departure on operations has been achieved through the hard work and support of my ship’s company, their families and the wider defense enterprise in ensuring that we…

Coast Guard Cutter Northland returns to homeport after 79-day patrol

August 25, 2018August 25, 2018 seawaves

August 25, 2018 – Coast Guard Cutter Northland (WMEC-904) returned to Portsmouth, Virginia, after completing a 79-day patrol in the Western Atlantic Ocean, Saturday. The Northland is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported out of Portsmouth, and routinely deploys in support of counter-drug, alien migrant interdiction, fisheries, and search and rescue missions. The cutter crew interdicted 642 kilograms of cocaine and six suspected drug smugglers from a low-profile smuggling vessel while operating in the Western Atlantic Ocean. With the assistance of the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon (WPC-1113) crew and…

Gosport Oil Fuel Depot redevelopment

August 9, 2018 seawaves

Information about the project to redevelop Gosport Oil Fuel Depot, how it will affect the local area and who to contact to make an enquiry. Contents Oil Fuel Depots Gosport Oil Fuel Depot Site redevelopment Work to be carried out Project timescales Noise and disruption management Traffic management Site security Community Relations Team Related information Oil Fuel Depots The Oil & Pipelines Agency (OPA) is responsible for 6 Naval Oil Fuel Depots in the UK. It works on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence. It is a statutory public corporation sponsored by…