Category: Security policy

Dutch frigate lost 4000 litres of lubricating oil in the Baltic Sea

The Dutch frigate HNLMS "De Zeven Provinciën" lost around 4000 litres of lubricating oil in the Baltic Sea last month. This happened during her deployment for the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). The oil escaped in small quantities in phases and was therefore not noticed immediately. The crew only realised when a larger quantity had escaped. The leak was then found and plugged. The cause is not yet known. The air defence and command frigate HNLMS "De Zeven Provinciën" is the flagship of the rapid reaction force SNMG1. According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the frigate is currently on a harbour visit in...

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40 years ago: The loss of the HMS Antelope

The Falklands War 40 years ago cost the Royal Navy several capital ships. The four destroyers "HMS Sheffield", "HMS Ardent", "HMS Coventry" and "HMS Antelope", as well as the container ship "Atlantic Conveyor" fell victim to Argentine attacks. HMS Antelope was hit twice, but the bombs did not explode as they were dropped too low. Later that night, experts tried to defuse one of the bombs, but it detonated and fatally damaged the ship in a huge explosion. The ship began to heel and had a large hole amidships. There was a fire and the fire mains were damaged in the explosion. The explosions...

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The maritime side of the war: Crisis in the Black Sea Part I

Crews and ships trapped The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 had a profound impact on shipping in the Black Sea. To prevent the Russian navy from entering their harbours and attempting to capture them in a coup d'état, Ukrainian tugs and naval support vessels mined the waters along the coast of the Gulf of Odessa. This was a trap for many ships. Examples include the bulk carrier MV Riva Wind, registered in the Marshall Islands, and the Hong Kong-flagged COSCO container ship Joseph Schulte. The problem was getting vital raw materials out of the port of Odessa. What we Central Europeans have so far...

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Ukraine war: Russia utilises Ukrainian boats of prey

Russia wants to guard the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol with armoured gunboats from the Ukrainian navy Several armoured gunboats that were in service with the Ukrainian navy and were confiscated during the Russian "special military operation" in Ukraine will now be used to guard the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol. However, their technology must first be restored. It is not yet known whether the ships will continue their service with the maritime units of the Russian Border Guard or with the Black Sea Fleet. The official Russian news agency Tass reported that it could not officially confirm the information at the time of publication. Before the start...

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Ukraine - War harms the Baltic Sea

The war in Ukraine has serious consequences for the environment in the Baltic Sea. The Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea - also known as the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) - which is currently chaired by Germany, suspended its meetings one week after the Russian invasion on 24 February. The situation has paralysed the work of the intergovernmental organisation, which was founded in 1974 by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the European Union. Over the years, some successes have been achieved, particularly at the wastewater treatment plants in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. Due to the sanctions, the maintenance...

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