Top News of The Week Feb 11 – 16, 2013

USNS Spearhead Pays Maiden Visit to Port of St. Petersburg

Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) first joint high-speed vessel, USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), made its first port visit to the Port of St. Petersburg Feb. 10.

AGHAM Calls for Naval, Ship-Building Self-Reliance

In light of the recent Tubbataha incident, activist scientist group AGHAM or Advocates of Science and Technology for the People called on the Philippine government to build a national ship-building industry that will strengthen the country’s capacity to protect its own territory and marine resources.

USCG Cutter Vigorous Provides Assistance to Disabled Cruise Ship

The US Coast Guard is maintaining communication with a cruise ship that has lost main propulsion and is dead in the water approximately 136 miles north of Merida, Mexico Sunday.

Spanish Replenishment Oiler ESPS Cantabria Demonstrates Her Versatility

The last two weeks of January have been a busy period for ESPS Cantabria (CMDR J.L. Nieto) and her embarked RAN DET. Having successfully navigated the Suez Canal, Cantabria entered the Gulf of Aden (GoA) area of operations.

Dutch Navy Sailors Practice Replenishment at Sea Using British Training Rig

Sailors from the Royal Netherlands Navy have practiced re-storing a ship at sea with fuel and other essential supplies, using the training facilities at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.

Removal of USS Guardian Faces Another Challenge

The removal operation of the grounded USS Guardian has been faced with another challenge this week, with SMIT Borneo crane barge’s inability to safely anchor at the Tubbataha Reef, the Philippines, Stars and Stripe  website reported.