Fincantieri Cuts Steel for Italian Navy's New Oceanographic Ship
, the Director of the Hydrographic Institute, Rear Admiral Massimiliano Nannini and the Director of Naval Armaments, Chief Inspector Admiral Giuseppe Abbamonte.The renewal program of the naval units of the Navy's hydrographic service is part of an innovative European project involving the Ministry of Defense. Within the scope of this project, a funding agreement has been reached between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).(Photo: Fincantieri
Converted OSV Enters Service in the UK as an Underwater Surveillance Ship
Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a launchpad for remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) and a home to a suite of specialist capabilities similar to those found in the offshore oil and gas industry.The ship, built in 2017 as a subsea construction vessel named Topaz Tangaroa, was acquired by the U.K. Ministry of Defense in January and converted at Cammell Laird for its new role as a Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship (MROSS). Proteus is equipped with a flight deck and a 1,000-square-meter cargo deck, plus a heavy-duty crane for lifting and lowering operations.The 6,000-tonne vessel left Merseyside in September
BAE Systems Secures $4,81B Funding for Next-Gen Nuclear Submarine Program
The UK Ministry of Defense has awarded £3.95 billion (currently ~$4,81 billion) of funding to BAE Systems for the next phase of the UK's next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine program, known as SSN-AUKUS.According to BAE Systems, SSN-AUKUS will be the largest, most powerful, and most advanced attack submarine the Royal Navy has ever operated and will eventually replace the Astute class, which BAE Systems builds at its site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.The funding follows the AUKUS announcement in March by the leaders of Australia, the UK and the United States. This will eventually
U.S. Revives Cold War Submarine Spy Program to Counter China
known point on earth; the other near Yap, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia. Though China says these sensors are used for scientific purposes, they could detect submarine movements near the U.S. naval base on Guam, a Pacific island territory, the Navy sources said.China’s Ministry of Defense did not respond to requests for comment about any aspect of this story. China's Foreign Ministry declined to comment.The U.S. Navy’s surveillance push is driven by three main factors, according to the three people with direct knowledge of the plans. First is the meteoric rise
Uncrewed Boats Are Changing the Way Wars Are Fought at Sea
, evolutionary approach to interpreting the convention in light of modern advancements, and the purpose of Article 29, could allow an uncrewed vessel to be regarded as a “warship” to ensure a state’s accountability for its actions. This is precisely the view taken by the UK Ministry of Defense in a submission to the House of Lords in November 2021. On the question of whether UNCLOS is “fit for purpose” in the 21st century, it said that Article 29 confirms that:"State responsibility for the actions of warships and requires that the state have an accountable system
SeeByte Selected to Develop Future Crewed-uncrewed Teaming Concept
SeeByte, developer of smart software solutions for uncrewed maritime systems, reports it been selected by the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s Defense and Security Accelerator (DASA) to design and develop a proof-of-concept solution to improve communication and understanding between operators and uncrewed maritime systems.The new concept will include tailoring the volume and content of messages received and predicting vehicles’ actions between communication updates, SeeByte said. The engine will present any variation detected between the predicted and actual actions of the vehicle executed
UKHO Appoints Marion Leslie as Non-Executive Chair
position after a year as interim Non-Executive Chair and six years as a Non-Executive Director at the UKHO.The Board supports, challenges and validates the UKHO business strategy and oversees the organization's performance. Leslie leads the Board as Chair, acting in the interests of the Ministry of Defense and key stakeholders, and supports and provides guidance to Peter Sparkes, UKHO’s Chief Executive.UKHO exists to support safe, secure and thriving oceans. The UKHO is a world-leading center for hydrography, specializing in marine geospatial data that supports defense and global shipping
Obituary: Dr. David Thomas Pugh (1943-2022)
in the Red Sea in 1967. He never lost interest in the topic of geothermal heat fluxes in the ocean and lakes, and returned to it in several later publications, the last being a study of Patagonian lakes (with Liverpool University) in 1998.After graduating, David did a variety of research for the Ministry of Defense. However, in 1969 he joined what came to be called the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL) at Bidston Observatory in Wirral. His work at POL involved many aspects of sea-level science. As part of an extensive study of the accuracy and reliability of pressure tide gauges, he developed a
UK Hydrographic Office Appoints Peter Sparkes as Chief Executive
those operating in the maritime sector."Going forward, UKHO will continue to meet the evolving needs of mariners around the world, contributing fully to the development of the IHO’s second generation of electronic charting and digital services, the S-100 data standard. As part of the Ministry of Defense, UKHO plays a key role in supporting the U.K.’s national security. Our teams will continue to provide defense partners with the decision support, data and expertise they need to conduct military operations."We also join the international community in recognizing that many of our