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BBC News, Africa reported that 55 pilot whales with calves were beached at Kommetjie, near Cape Town on May 30. South African rescue teams attempted to send back 20 pilot whales and the remaining had to be put down.

Later, Reuters India reported that all the whales have died as rescue attempts failed.Though the whales were initially reported as pilot whales, later they were identified as false killer whales by National Sea Rescue Institute.

It is also reported that mass beaching of whales has taken place for the first time at Kommetjie Beach and the reasons for beaching is not known.

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Here is an interesting GIS (Geographical Information Systems) based Visuals of Sri Lanka’s War on Terrorism (1981-2009) from MOD, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Navy’s role in war against terrorism is commendable, because

• arms supply to LTTE through sea route was successfully cut off.
• deployed more number of high speed smaller crafts with night vision capability to take on sea tigers of LTTE.
• during the final phase of war, dedicated sailors sealed completely sea based escape routes of LTTE.

Three important frames from the visuals highlighting the rise and fall of terrorism in Sri Lanka for the year 1981, 2000 and May 18, 2009 are shown below:

Year 1981: Terrorism starts and spreads in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, by LTTE.

Year 2000: more coastal areas come under control of LTTE.

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Cyclonic storm “Aila” hit India and Bangladesh on May 25.Orissa,West Bengal in India and Bangladesh were affected.Even after five days of the cyclonic storm, rescue work is going on.

Though forecast from India Meteorological Department (IMD) was available from May 22, Indian Newspapers and TV News Channels failed to give regular weather forecast to reach the masses to minimize loss of life and loss of property. India’s Press Information Bureau gave ‘Cyclone warning for West Bengal and North Orissa coasts’ only on May 25, 13:49 IST.

Here is the track of Cyclone Aila available from India Meteorological Department:

• May 22, morning: A low pressure area was formed over southeast Bay of Bengal.
• May 22 evening: It lay over east central & adjoining west central Bay of Bengal.
• May 23, 1130 IST: It concentrated into a depression and lay centered near Lat. 16.5ºN/Long 88.0ºE about 600 kms south of Sagar Island.
• May 24, 0830 IST: It moved mainly in a northerly direction and intensified into a deep depression and lay centred  near Lat. 18.0ºN/Long 88.5ºE.
• May 24, 1730 IST: It further intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Aila’ and lay centred near Lat. 18.5ºN/Long 88.5ºE.
• May 25, 1130 IST: It continued to move in northerly direction and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centred over northwest Bay of Bengal near Lat. 21.5ºN/Long 88.0ºE close to Sagar Island.
• May 25, 1330 to 1430 hours IST: The system crossed West Bengal coast close to the east of Sagar Island between as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speed of 100 to 110 kmph.
• May 25, 2030 IST: After the landfall, the system continued to move in a northerly direction, gradually weakened into a cyclonic storm and lay centred over Gangetic West Bengal, close to Kolkata.
• May 26, 0830 IST: While it continued its northerly movement, it further weakened into a deep depression and lay centred over Sub-Himalayan west Bengal & Sikkim, close to Maldah.
• May 26, 1130 IST: It weakened into a depression and lay centred over the same region close to Baghdogra.
• May 26, 1430 IST: It weakened and lay as a well marked low pressure area over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and neighborhood and became less marked on May 27.

Damages reported are:

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Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)-Technical Seminar was hosted by Sri Lanka Navy last week. IONS came into existence last year at New Delhi on February 14.

It is worth noting that Sri Lanka Navy played a decisive role in bringing the war on terrorism to an end successfully.

Some interesting features of IONS – Technical Seminar are:

• Theme ‘Practical Cooperative Mechanisms for Technical Support within the Indian Ocean Region’.
• Two day seminar was conducted on May 21, 22 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.
• Inaugurated by Prime Minister Hon. Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka, the chief guest.
• Sri Lanka Navy participation
  • Admiral WKJ Wasantha Karannagoda, Commander of the Navy
  • Rear Admiral TSG Samarasinghe, Chief of Staff
  • Rear Admiral DN Dharmaweera, Director General Engineering
  • Rear Admiral  PLN Obeysinghe, Director General Personnel & Training
  • Rear Admiral JSK Kolombage Director General Operations
  • Rear Admiral  JC Hettigama, Director General Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Attended by representatives of eighteen (18) Navies of the Indian Ocean Littoral States.
• Issues discussed:
  • Formulation of standards for interoperability, technical cooperation, understanding procedures between IONS countries
  • Maintenance and repair methodologies being followed in IONS countries
  • Leveraging logistic support within Indian Ocean Region for ships on deployment
  • Harnessing ‘Information Technology’ towards shorter refits
  • Privatization of repair/refit infrastructure towards attaining higher efficiency
  • Performance based logistics for life-time support of ships supportable towards shorter refits within IOR
  • Optimization of technical manpower onboard ships with emerging technologies

The Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weerathunga was the chief guest at the closing ceremony.

Here is one more photograph of IONS – Technical Seminar.

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Sail Training Ship (STS) Young Endeavour is on her 2009 Circumnavigation of Australia.

Some interesting features of STS Young Endeavour and the voyage are:

• STS Young Endeavour
  • Gifted by the United Kingdom to Australia to mark the Bicentenary in 1988.
  • Operated and maintained by the Royal Australian Navy.
  • Young Endeavour Youth Scheme (YEYS) was set up in 1988 to manage the associated sail training program.
  • YEYS management and administration is by civilian staff and is located in the ship’s home port of Sydney.
  • Voyages are open to Australians aged 16 – 23.
  • Since 1988, YEYS has provided challenging training voyages to more than 10,000 youth.
  • The vessel completed a circumnavigation of the world during 1992 to represent Australia at celebrations in Europe and America commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ Voyage of Discovery to the New World.
• 2009 Circumnavigation of Australia
  • Commenced her six month voyage on May 23 from Garden Island, Sydney.
  • Twenty four young Australians, during this voyage are determined to learn leadership and teamwork skills, increase their self confidence and develop their sense of social responsibility.
  • To visit Brisbane, Bundaberg, Mackay, Airlie Beach, Townsville, Cairns, Darwin, Broome, Exmouth, Fremantle, Esperance, Adelaide, and Williamstown before returning to Sydney in December.
  • At each port she will embark a new youth crew, who will spend 11 to 18 days learning the technical skills required to sail a square-rigged vessel, including helming, navigation, rope handling, working aloft and even command.
  • Ship’s first voyage to the north and west of Australia after eight years.
  • A great opportunity for regional communities to see the ship, visit the ship and to know about YEYS as she sails along the Australian coast.

Here is a photograph of STS Young Endeavour

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IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) is set to take up piracy and armed robbery against ships in their 86th session to be held from May 27 to June 5 at the Organization’s London Headquarters. Part of the IMO Briefing 22/2009 is given below:

Piracy and armed robbery against ships
The MSC will review the latest statistics on piracy and armed robbery against ships, in particular in relation to the situation off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, where ships continue to be attacked and hijacked, despite the concerted efforts of the international community, spearheaded by IMO, navies and the industry, to protect shipping.
The MSC is expected to finalize updated Recommendations to Governments for preventing and suppressing piracy and armed robbery against ships; and Guidance to shipowners and ship operators, shipmasters and crews on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, taking into account the current trends and practices of the perpetrators with a view to providing advice in cases where seafarers, fishermen and other mariners are kidnapped or held hostage for ransom; and providing advice in cases where naval vessels and military aircraft seek to provide assistance or protection.
A special briefing from those involved in operations to deter and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia, as well as from those affected by the situation, including industry representatives, will be held on Wednesday, 27 May at 4.30. p.m.

Other issues to be discussed during the meeting are:

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Indian Army is preparing to participate in R6 Rafting World Cup Nisava 2009. White water rafting is one of the important adventure Sports in the Army. In the past Indian Army has represented World Rafting Championship 2005 at Equador and World Rafting Championship 2007 at South Korea.

Some interesting features of R6 Rafting World Cup Nisava 2009 are:

• to be held in Nisava river in Serbia on May 30 and 31st 
• to be hosted by Rafting Club Liman
• 37 teams from all over the world are expected to participate
• no entry fee
• prize of 4000 Euro overall
• to be represented by seven members of Indian Army led by Captain Sachin Nikam

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Floating Jetty Valiant of the Royal Navy arrived at HM Naval Base Clyde on May 19.

Some interesting features of floating jetty Valiant are:

• A sophisticated berthing facility for the Royal Navy’s next generation of nuclear-powered Astute Class submarines, the largest and most powerful attack submarines of the Royal Navy.
• Can also accommodate any of the Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines.
• The jetty can float up and down with the tide to provide significant operational benefits.
• Took five years to plan, five years to build, and is designed to be in service for the next 50 years.
• Built and floated from Inchgreen dry dock in Greenock.
• The floating jetty was towed 12 miles to Faslane by five tugs and took around six hours to complete the journey.
• The floating jetty is 200 metres long, 28 metres wide, over 10 metres deep and 44,000 tonnes.
• The floating jetty’s length is comparable to the Royal Navy’s current aircraft carriers and is more than twice the tonnage.
• Cost: £150 million

Here is a photograph of floating jetty Valiant under tow.

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The Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy is celebrating 100 years of Naval Aviation this year. The Royal Navy’s Naval aviation was born on May 07, 1909. On this occasion, Fleet Air Arm Centenary Malt Whisky is available for sale. Each bottle is individually numbered and packaged in a commemorative tube.

More details are available in the image below.

Posts in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Weekend Picnic: Grill and Chill on BBQ Donut

Fire Onboard Nuclear Powered USS George Washington: 24 Sailors Treated

Graphical Presentation: Market Capitalization of Shipping Industry

On May 19, U.S.Navy’s HH-60 Seahawk helicopter while conducting training operations with USS Nimitz (CVN 68) crashed into the ocean off the coast of Southern California.

HH-60 Seahawk helicopter and some developments on the crash are:

• The helicopter with five crew members, was from Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron HS-6.
  • HS-6 is a Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron employing the SH-60 and HH-60 Seahawk rotary wing helicopter. Their primary missions include Anti-Submarine Warfare, Search and Rescue, Combat Search and Rescue, Logistical Operations, and the insertion/extraction of Special Forces Personnel.
  • HS-6 is home ported in San Diego and is part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 assigned to the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
  • The helicopter was operating from USS Nimitz (CVN 68) off the coast of California, when the mishap occurred.
• On May 20, during Search And Rescue (SAR) operations conducted by assets from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, San Diego Harbor Police, Customs and Border Protection and the Mexican Navy, the bodies of three crewmembers were recovered from the crash area.
• On May 21, SAR efforts to locate the remaining two crew members were suspended as aircrew survivability was doubtful.
• The U.S.Navy is now focusing on the feasibility of salvage operations.
• Experienced search and salvage specialists from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 1 are using Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) with side-scan sonar technology to locate the helicopter in the sea.
• The data collected by the UUVs will be analyzed to help determine follow-on salvage operations.
• The mishap is under investigation.

It may be recalled that the “Indians” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 6 reached a new milestone on February 8, 2008 by achieving 19 years of flight operations without a class “A” mishap.

Here is a photograph from U.S.Navy.

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Model Cruises is offering one hour Fun in the Sun cruises with Bikini Models.

Some interesting features of Model Cruises are:

• You can cruise in the company of Bikini Models and dance if you behave like a gentleman and treat the models with respect.
• You are required to purchase at least two $20 tipping tokens for the models per hour.
• Operates from Newport, Rhode Island.
• Offered 7 days a week at: 12PM, 1PM, 2PM, 3PM, 4PM, 5PM.
• Reservation includes: 1 hour on boat, free snacks, water, soda and beer.
• Swimming.
• Updates on Model Cruises is available on Twitter.

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The Royal Navy and the Bangladesh Navy conducted Exercise ‘Shomudro Torongo’ in the Ganges Delta this month. The exercise was aimed to combat terrorism and to gain expertise in natural disaster management. It may be recalled that Bangladesh was also a victim of Cyclone Nargis on May 02 and 03, 2008.

Some interesting features of ‘Shomudro Torongo’ are: 

• ‘Shomudro Torongo’ means ‘Sea Waves’ in Bengali language.
• Five-day joint exercise was conducted from April 29 to May 03 off Kutubdia island, located in the most complicated waterways and coastlines in the world.
• The first major joint exercise in more than a decade, conducted between the Royal Navy and the Bangladesh Navy.
• The Royal Navy participation
  • Amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark landed Royal Marines ashore into the Ganges Delta and supported them from sea
  • Fast boats and landing craft from 4 and 539 Assault Squadrons Royal Marines
  • Anti-ambush drills, patrolling and the insertion and extraction of observation posts by Charlie Company, 40 Commando
  • Support tanker RFA Wave Ruler off the coast with a Merlin maritime patrol helicopter from 820 Naval Air Squadron embarked to offer essential CASEVAC (casualty evacuation) support as well as assistance in intelligence gathering
  • The crew of HMS Bulwark also went to Ali Akbardeil village on Kutubdia island to help in the construction and handing over of a multi-purpose community house
• The Bangladesh Navy participation
  • BNS Kapatakhaya, an Island Class offshore patrol vessel and other vessels
  • A tour of the flagship HMS Bulwark
  • Also helicopters, Air Force assets and Army Commandos took part including intelligence agencies, police, coastguard
• The joint exercise included an air defence exercise, fire-fighting drills, ship maneuvering serials.

Here is a photograph of ‘Shomudro Torongo’ from the Royal Navy.

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World’s first civilian nuclear powered icebreaker Lenin of Russia is finally getting ready to become a museum and hotel. The vessel arrived at the port of Murmansk on May 05 as her final destination for conversion into a museum. She was previously  undergoing decommissioning at nearby Atomflot’s facility.

The vessel will be turned into an Information Center and a Museum of the Arctic Region and the Development of the Northern Sea Route. Maintenance of the ship would cost about 30 million rubles per year (about $900,000).

Some interesting features of Lenin are:

• The preparation to construct the vessel was started on Aug 24 1956.
• The ship was launched on December 5, 1957.
• Undergone sea trials in the Gulf of Finland in Sept-Dec 1959.
• Was officially accepted for service on December 3 1959.

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Indian Navy commissioned INS Airavat, Landing Ship Tank (Large) designed for amphibious operations today, May 19.  In Hindu mythology, Airavat is the mount of God Indra, and is the king-god of elephants.

Some interesting features of INS Airavat, LST (L), (L 24) are:

• Commissioned by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, AVSM, PVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff at IN Jetty at Naval Base, Visakhapatnam.
• Constructed by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkota as Yard 3016.
• Launched by Mrs. Maria Teresa Mehta at Kolkota on March 27, 2006.
• An upgrade of the Magar Class, the First LST (L)) and is the fifth LST (L) of the Indian Navy and third of the Shardul class.
• The ship measures 125 meters in length, 17.5 meters in breadth and displaces 5655 tons.
• Equipment, capabilities
  • Two indigenous WM 18A Rocket Launchers
  • Chaff Rockets to clutter the sensory inputs of an incoming enemy aircraft or missile
  • Two indigenous CRN 91 Anti-Aircraft Guns auto-controlled by Optronic Sights
  • Shoulder launched IGLA Surface to Air Missiles
  • Microprocessor based anti-roll Flume Stabilisation System
  • Smoke Curtains to impede spreading of smoke and toxic gases in case of fire onboard
  • Can carry 10 Main Battle Tanks, 11 Combat Trucks and 500 Troops
  • Can operate Seaking 42C, indigenous Dhruv helicopters
  • Can operate independently at high seas for as long as 45 days
• Also has fully integrated, microprocessor based
  • Remote Propulsion Control
  • Battle Damage Control System
  • Automated Power Management System
• Suitable for
  • HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) missions during natural calamities like tsunami, cyclone, earthquake etc.
  • Amphibious operations
  • Assault operations
  • Hospital ship
  • Fleet Tanker through stern refueling of other naval vessels
• Most of the equipment supplied by PSUs like Bharat Electronics Medak, HAL, Keltron and private sector companies like Larsen and Toubro, Kirloskar,  Godrej.

Here are some commissioning photographs from Press Information Bureau.

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LTTE that started as a freedom struggle movement, later became a terrorist movement. The Sea Tigers of LTTE were actively involved in sea piracy also. LTTE is reported to have hijacked the following vessels and killed the crew members out side the waters of Sri Lanka:

• MV Irish Mona – August 1995
• MV Princess Wave – August 1996
• MV Athena – May 1997
• MV Misen – July 1997
• MV Morang Bong – July 1997
• MV Cordiality – September 1997
• MV Princess Kash – August 1988
• MV Sik Yang – reported missing May 25, 1999
• MV Farah III – December 2006 – crew members were released

Here is the past and present of MV Farah III in the hands of Sea Tigers of Sri Lanka.

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