Top News of the Week May 5 – 11, 2014

Nigerian Navy Receives Former U.S. Coast Guard Cutter

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Nigerian Navy held a ceremony Wednesday in North Charleston to officially sign the decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin over to the Nigerian Navy.   The Gallatin was offered to Nigeria April 24, 2013, through the Foreign Assistance Act, and was decommissioned from Coast Guard service March 31, 2014. 

Chilean Submarine Pays Visit to San Diego

The Chilean diesel-electric submarine CS Thomson (SS 20) arrived at U.S. Naval Base Point Loma May 1 while participating in the U.S. Navy’s Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI). 

Russia Returns Five More Ships to Ukraine

Five more Ukrainian ships, which were based in Crimea, have been returned to Ukrainian command by the Russian Navy, according to the RIA Novosti.   Russia began returning ships to Ukraine last month, the first one being Ukrainian missile boat Pryluky.

VIDEO: Sikorsky Unveils CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter (USA)

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., yesterday officially unveiled the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter, the next generation in the CH-53 type series that the U.S. Marine Corps expects to begin operational service in 2019.   

Australia: Austal Launches Third-in-Series Cape Class Patrol Boat

Austal launched the third-in-series Cape Class Patrol Boat (CCPB) at the Company’s Australian Defence Facility in Henderson, Western Australia on 5 May 2014. 

NATO Ships Arrive in Klaipeda, Lithuania

The five NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1) arrived in Klaipėda in the evening of May 1 for a scheduled port visit during the Group’s deployment to the Baltic to enhance maritime security and NATO’s readiness in the region.