PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Eastern Shipbuilding Group held a keel-laying ceremony for the U.S. Coast Guard’s first-of-class offshore patrol cutter (OPC), the Argus, the company said in a release. The April 28 ceremony, at Eastern Shipbuilding’s Nelson Street facility in Panama City, was performed and recorded without an audience to comply with U.S. Centers for Disease…
Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk Returns from Counter-Drug Patrol
KEY WEST, Fla. — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk crew has returned to their homeport in Key West following a 65-day counter-drug patrol throughout the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean, the Coast Guard said in a release. The Mohawk crew, with a deployed Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical…
New CH-53K Simulator Ready for Training
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The H-53 heavy-lift helicopter program office has taken delivery of the first training device for the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter, according to a Naval Air Systems Command release. Delivered April 14, the Containerized Flight Training Device (CFTD) is housed at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina. …
U.S., British Ships Conduct Anti-Submarine Exercise Above Arctic Circle
NORWEGIAN SEA — The U.S. 6th Fleet conducted a bilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise with the U.K. above the Arctic Circle on May 1, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the 6th Fleet said. Four ships from two nations, a U.S. submarine, and a U.S. P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance…
Eastern Shipbuilding Cuts Steel for Second Offshore Patrol Cutter
PANANA CITY, Fla. — Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) began to cut steel for the second offshore patrol cutter (OPC), the Chase, on April 27, ESG said in a release. The cutting of steel starts the fabrication and assembly of the cutter’s hull, and ESG is to complete keel-laying of the Chase next year. Additionally, ESG has started the…
Marinette Marine Wins Guided-Missile Frigate Contract
WASHINGTON — Marinette Marine has won a coveted contract from the U.S. Navy to design and produce the next-generation small surface combatant, the guided-missile frigate (FFG(X), the public affairs office of the Navy’s Program Executive Office-Unmanned and Small Combatants said in an April 30 release. The Marinette Marine deal is good for detail design and construction (DD&C) of…
Hospital Ship Comfort Departs NYC, Prepared for Future COVID-19 Response
NEW YORK — The hospital ship USNS Comfort departed New York City on April 30 after supporting the Pentagon’s COVID-19 response assistance to New York and New Jersey residents during the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to a U.S. 2nd Fleet news release. The Comfort has been at Pier 90 in New York City for a month, providing…
U.S. Coast Guard, Australia to Begin Officer Exchange Program
HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard and the Australian Department of Home Affairs on April 27 signed an agreement for a system of mutual officer exchange from their offices in Hawaii and Canberra, the Coast Guard 14th District said in a release. Rear Adm. Kevin Lunday, commander of…
Pacific Fleet to Host At-Sea-Only RIMPAC Exercise in August
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — The U.S. Navy will sponsor the 27th Rim of the Pacific exercise, from Aug. 17 to Aug. 31, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a release. Hosted by the commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, this biennial maritime exercise will be an at-sea-only event in light…
