Free Republic

Asia-U.S. Shipper Readies Huge Fleet Expansion After Reporting 37% Higher Volumes Vincent Fernando, CFA Mar. 29, 2010, 10:28 AM Neptune Orient Lines, owner of the formerly U.S.-owned APL container shipping company, just reported a sharp 37% jump in container trade volume for February, crediting strength in both Intra-Asia and U.S. - Asia (Transpacific) demand. (Note that higher volume can come from APL taking share, total trade growth will be lower.) The charts below are from NOL's release.[snip]

The Israel Air Force on Sunday introduced a fleet of large unmanned planes it claims can fly as far as Iran. Air force officials said the Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 26 meters, making them the size of passenger jets. They said the planes can fly 20 consecutive hours, and are primarily used for surveillance and carrying payloads. The drones, built by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, were first used during Israel's Gaza war last year. At an inauguration ceremony Sunday, officials refused to say how large the new fleet is or whether the planes were designed for use...

The biggest and most secretive gathering of ships in maritime history lies at anchor east of Singapore. Never before photographed, it is bigger than the U.S. and British navies combined but has no crew, no cargo and no destination - and is why your Christmas stocking may be on the light side this year

WASHINGTON - "Fore!" The federal government is preparing to spend millions to purchase a fleet of small electric vehicles that critics compare to golf carts. The $838 billion economic stimulus bill that passed the Senate yesterday contains $300 million for the government to purchase a fleet of "green" cars. But the money won't just go to buy fuel-efficient hybrids such as the Ford Escape or Chevy Volt. The cash also can be used to purchase "neighborhood electric vehicles." The NEVs, which resemble streamlined golf carts, scoot at up to 25 mph, operate on battery power and can be plugged into...

Fleet Week 2008 Press Releases FLEET WEEK HAS A STELLAR LINE UP The Blue Angels Return along with the Canadian Snowbirds SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Sept. 2, 2008 -- Fleet week is proud to announce that the Navy’s Blue Angels will be returning to the skies of San Francisco. Fleet week makes its 28th annual appearance, October 9-14, 2008 -- attracting an estimated one million spectators along the San Francisco waterfront. The show will be bigger and better this year with the Canadian Snowbirds joining the Blue Angels. The Snowbirds’ performance features nine jets showcasing remarkable tactical aviation. Their show...

New Russian threat comes in response to war in Caucasus, US-Poland deal for missile defense shield in Europe. According to Sunday Times, nuclear warheads could be supplied to submarines, cruisers and fighter bombers of Russia's Baltic fleet based between Poland and Lithuania Cold War warming up? Russia is considering arming its Baltic fleet with nuclear warheads for the first time since the cold war, the London-based Sunday Times has reported, quoting senior military sources.

Strategist says move would show U.S. is committed to Latin America MIAMI — The Navy is considering restoring the 4th Fleet in the Atlantic Ocean, a bureaucratic change that would raise the prominence of Pentagon maritime activities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the disclosure during a visit to the Southern Command last week — calling it "a great idea" that "as far as I know is moving forward." The move would bring no new vessels to the region but would put Southcom on par administratively with other Pentagon...

Duncan Hunter is still trying to push the Sea Fighter. You know, X-Craft, that beacon of hope for those who hold out for major Navy transformation. Duncan Hunter is under the assumption that if the Navy would just field the Sea Fighter with 500 missiles from a certain company who continues to get earmarks from Mr. Hunter, a company that donates a lot of money to his political campaign, the US would have a better Navy...Duncan Hunter's fleet of one is in Florida and he isn't too happy about it. This is the second year in a row Duncan Hunter...

apan's whaling fleet was set to leave port Sunday for its biggest-ever scientific whale hunt in the South Pacific, the government fisheries agency said. The whalers have orders to kill up to 50 humpback whales — the first known large-scale hunt for the species since a 1963 moratorium put humpbacks under international protection. The new hunt is certain to renew Japan's angry standoff with anti-whaling forces. Greenpeace and the animal rights activist group Sea Shepherd have said they will track the South Pacific hunt. Four ships including the lead craft, the 8,044-ton Nisshin Maru, were set to leave Sunday morning...

Oil price 'grounds' N Korea fleet The Antonov An-2 transport first flew in 1947 North Korea has been forced to ground a fleet of Soviet-era military planes because of the high oil price, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Fuel is being diverted for other training flights, Yonhap quoted a military source as saying. The Antonov An-2 biplanes - of which North Korea's air force is thought to have about 300 - are able to drop special forces behind enemy lines. The planes, which can cruise below radar, carry some 12 soldiers. North Korea's impoverished economy has suffered from energy...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2007 – The San Diego Padres Major League Baseball team kicked off Fleet Week San Diego 2007 with a game honoring members of the city’s military community. San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy (center) relaxes Sept. 17, 2007, with six Marines wounded in Iraq who are recovering at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Bank of America, an official sponsor of Fleet Week San Diego 2007, arranged the meeting as part of the festivities. Courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “The Padres understand and have great respect for what our dedicated men and women in...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2007 – When a Military Sealift Command ship that routinely delivers ordnance to Navy ships makes its next delivery, the Pacific Fleet should be set for a movie marathon. As part of “Operation Popcorn,” the ammunition ship USNS Flint will distribute 250,000 bags of donated microwavable popcorn. “I am only too happy to be able to support this operation,” said civilian mariner Capt. Robert C. Holley, master of the Flint. The ship’s civilian mariners will deliver the buttery treats in addition to its already-planned cargo of ammunition. The Flint, which supports the Pacific Fleet, also will...

News Releases May 15, 2007ICE uncovers metropolitan area credit card fraud schemeTwo arrested for allegedly embezzling $6 million from major banks including Bank of America, Citigroup, Wachovia NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents today announced the arrests of two men for allegedly masterminding a significant credit card fraud scheme that resulted in the loss of over $6 million to credit card lenders and banks nationwide. On May 11, special agents from ICE’s Office of Investigations in Newark, N.J., arrested Akbar Wrind, a 54-year-old resident of Bayonne, N.J., and Rafael Marte, a 47-year-old resident of Walnut Port,...

Hi, I need articles pulled from the CCTimes or Maybe SFChronicle for the last year on the Suisan Bay Moth Ball Fleet. My webtv is not powered enough to archive. You can private Freep me so we don't get in publishing troubles. Or links. What I am looking for is the articles in ref. to dismantle of the fleet. Pres. Reagon had some great ideas in just leaving the old Navy Moth Ball fleet alone. The sturgeon even have taken up the area as a home and fishermen love it. They wanted to use tax payer money to ship them...

Navy to cut its fleet by half By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent Last Updated: 12:54am GMT 05/01/2007 Royal Navy commanders were in uproar yesterday after it was revealed that almost half of the Fleet's 44 warships are to be mothballed as part of a Ministry of Defence cost-cutting measure. Senior officers have said the plans will turn Britain's once-proud Navy into nothing more than a coastal defence force. The Government has admitted that 13 unnamed warships are in a state of reduced readiness, putting them around 18 months away from active service. Today The Daily Telegraph can name a further...

FORT WORTH, Texas: The U.S. government awarded a $635 million Fixed Price Incentive contract to Lockheed Martin on Dec. 22 to upgrade the Turkish Air Force's existing fleet of F- 16s. Under the terms of the contract, Lockheed Martin will provide 216 modernization kits to upgrade Turkish F-16C and F-16D model aircraft in the nation's air force inventory. The effort also includes flight testing, training, technical support and sustainment activities. This contract continues work started under an initial contract in July 2005, based on an agreement signed between the governments of Turkey and the United States in April 2005. The...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy paraded ships and aircraft through San Diego Bay Oct. 1 to kick-off San Diego’s Fleet Week celebration. Nearly 100,000 San Diegans and visitors from neighboring towns watched ships, including USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), USS Ogden (LPD 5) and USS Princeton (CG 59) sail through San Diego Bay. People also lined up for ship tours immediately following the procession. “The Sea and Air Parade is one of the largest salutes to our Navy that we do here in San Diego,” said Executive Director of San Diego Fleet Week Foundation,...

USS PELELIU, At Sea (NNS) -- Six ships and nearly 5,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) concluded operations in the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet area of operations, July 9. Deployed Feb. 15 from San Diego and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Sailors and Marines assigned to Amphibious Squadron 3 and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC), supported operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom, and conducted maritime security operations (MSO) throughout the region. MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well...

NEW YORK (NNS) -- The 19th New York City Fleet Week came to a close May 31, as Sailors and Marines left New York City in their wake, headed for their next destination. While visiting the ‘Big Apple,’ Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen participated in community service events, sports competitions, military demonstrations and Memorial Day remembrances in all five boroughs. “I’m just impressed by the good, positive attitudes and willingness to work that the young Sailors express,” commented Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Paul Ablaza, a Reservist with Naval Security Forces, Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck, N.J. “Seeing the dedication of...

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (NNS) -- More than 1,000 Sailors and 600 Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) arrived in New York May 24 for Fleet Week 2006. Kearsarge, along with seven other U.S. naval ships will visit Manhattan and Staten Island for the annual celebration from May 24-31. “Fleet Week allows us to show the character of our Sailors and Marines and the quality of the Kearsarge’s, equipment, technology and capabilities,” said Capt. Joseph Sensi, Kearsarge’s commanding officer. “We thank New York for showing such appreciation and support for those of us who serve.” During their visit,...