Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched the future JS Natori, the ninth of a planned 12 Mogami-class stealth frigates ordered by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), at its Nagasaki facilities on Monday, June 24. The ship is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in 2025. The Mogami-class...
Naval Ships
OBITUARY | Claudio Graziano, Chairman of Fincantieri
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has confirmed the tragic news of the passing of Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fincantieri, earlier this month at the age of 70. His death came a little over two years since he was appointed to the position. A career officer in the Italian...
https://www.bairdmaritime.com/passenger/cruise/obituary-claudio-graziano-chairman-of-fincantieri/
OPINION | Overcoming the deliberate legal ambiguity adopted by China’s coast guard
While laws should provide clarity and transparency, China’s recent orders regarding maritime jurisdiction appear to be deliberately based on ambiguity and uncertainty. This has become very evident in the past day after the latest clash with the Philippines in the South China Sea. In seeking to...
Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | June 25 – New frigates, corvettes and a special operations support ship
The Hellenic Navy acquires a former research vessel for special operations support as Japan welcomes a stealth frigate into service and new corvettes for Russia and the Philippines are launched. Construction begins on Australia’s Hunter-class frigates. Finally, ordered have been placed for frigates for the German Navy and patrol boats for Australia’s Pacific Island neighbours. […]
Construction begins on Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigates
Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide, South Australia, has cut the first steel to be used in the construction of the first Hunter-class frigate ordered by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The piece of steel cut will form part of the under structure support for the port side propeller shaft brake...
OPINION | High noon at Second Thomas Shoal
China has identified the beleaguered garrison at Second Thomas Shoal as a weak link among the South China Sea features physically occupied by the Philippines and, by extension, the US-Philippines alliance. While Manila has held its nerve against Beijing’s mounting pressure tactics and holds the...
Japan’s sixth Mogami-class stealth frigate formally enters service
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) commissioned its newest stealth frigate into service in a ceremony on Thursday, June 20. JS Agano is the fifth frigate to be built under the Mogami-class. Construction of the vessel took place at the Nagasaki facilities of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries....
Australian government orders two additional Guardian-class patrol boats
The Australian Government has ordered two additional Guardian-class patrol boats from Austal Australia by way of a contract valued at approximately AU$39 million (US$26 million). The 39.5-metre, steel-hull patrol boats, to be constructed at Henderson in Western Australia and scheduled for delivery...
Name confirmed for US Navy’s sixth Constellation-class frigate
US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has confirmed that a future US Navy Constellation-class guided-missile frigate (FFG) will be named USS Galvez. The ship honours Conde Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, who provided supplies, intelligence, and military support to the American colonists during the...
German Navy orders two additional F126 frigates
The Procurement Organisation of the German Armed Forces has entered into an agreement for the construction of two additional F126 multi-purpose frigates for the German Navy. These ships will be the fifth and sixth in the F126 series, which is otherwise known as the Niedersachsen-class. The first...