News

A Russian naval force consisting of four ships was close to rounding Skagen Reef on the afternoon of March 19, 2025, heading towards the Great Belt. The Royal Navy, along with NATO allies, had conducted a coordinated operation to monitor the Russian naval task group since entering the English Channel on March 16. The Type 23 frigate HMS 'Somerset', the minehunter HMS 'Cattistock' and the RFA 'Tidesurge' had participated in the monitoring operation, which began south of Portsmouth. The operation involved both naval assets and aerial surveillance, including a RAF P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth. The ships were on their way back from Syria, where they have picked up military equipment that is no longer needed after the Russian-backed President Assad's regime fell in Dec 2024. The ships have been continuously shadowed by aircraft and warships from the NATO countries they have passed, a task that was taken over by units from the Danish Navy when the naval force have passed Skagen. The convoy consisted of the destroyer 'Severomorsk', the landing craft 'Aleksandr Shabalin', and the cargo ships 'Sparta IV' and 'Siyanie Severa', both of which sailing for the Russian Navy. The naval force was on its way to St. Petersburg with the 'SParta IV' having an ETA as of March 24, where equipment from Syria has previously been brought ashore. The Russians are negotiating with the new rulers in Syria for permission to continue using the strategically important naval base in Tartus. The Russians are prepared to pay for the base with Russian oil. The status of these negotiations was unknown. Report with photos: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/march/19/250319-royal-navy-shadow-russian-task-group-returning-from-syria-in-the-channel

A firearm and 600 rounds of ammunition were seized from the 'Malau' at the Suva Harbour. The Fijian Navy ship RFNS 'Timo' had intercepted the ferryand escorted it to Suva on March 18, 2025, at 3.35 a.m. (UTC+13). where the gun and ammunitions were seized. The gun had proper documentation from Tonga but the recipient in Fiji did not posses a licence for the firearm. The reasons behind the interception of the ferry, which was en route from Tongatapu to Suva for maintenance, remained unclear. The necessary documentation for the export of the firearm and ammunition had been provided. The ship was not detained by the Fiji Navy. Neither the captain, nor the crew are under custody.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Perak has detained the 'Queen Harmony' on March 17, 2025, at around 3:30 p.m. The authorities found that the vessel had anchored approximately 13 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Jarak, but had neither obtained any anchor permit from the Malaysian Marine Department nor reported its arrival in Malaysian waters. The case was being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, which imposes a maximum fine of around $21,000 USD or imprisonment of up to two years. A failure to report the arrival may result in an additional fine of up to around $1,050 USD. The bulk carrier has an Egyptian captain and 20 crew members, among them one Russian, two Ukrainians, and 17 Filipinos. Two crew members have been taken to the MMEA Perak Headquarters for further investigations.

Around 100 liters of fuel were spilled at the Taiwanese Keelung port during a bunkering operation of the 'Kanway Global on March 16, 2025, at around 5.40 p.m. The fuel leaked out during the connection procedure. The 'TS Pusan', 'TS Surabaya' and 'YM Immense ' as well as three pilot boats and mooring lines were contaminated, and cleaning and containment operations were commenced with pressure washers as a temporary solution. Oil containment booms and absorbent materials have been deployed to mitigate pollution and prevent further disruption to the port operations. The pilot vessels had to be drydocked for a thorough cleanup, whereas the other affected vessels have postponed their departures from the port.

A Russian naval force consisting of four ships was close to rounding Skagen Reef on the afternoon of March 19, 2025, heading towards the Great Belt. The Royal Navy, along with NATO allies, had conducted a coordinated operation to monitor the Russian naval task group since entering the English Channel on March 16. The Type 23 frigate HMS 'Somerset', the minehunter HMS 'Cattistock' and the RFA 'Tidesurge' had participated in the monitoring operation, which began south of Portsmouth. The operation involved both naval assets and aerial surveillance, including a RAF P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth. The ships were on their way back from Syria, where they have picked up military equipment that is no longer needed after the Russian-backed President Assad's regime fell in Dec 2024. The ships have been continuously shadowed by aircraft and warships from the NATO countries they have passed, a task that was taken over by units from the Danish Navy when the naval force have passed Skagen. The convoy consisted of the destroyer 'Severomorsk', the landing craft 'Aleksandr Shabalin', and the cargo ships 'Sparta IV' and 'Siyanie Severa', both of which sailing for the Russian Navy. The naval force was on its way to St. Petersburg with the 'SParta IV' having an ETA as of March 24, where equipment from Syria has previously been brought ashore. The Russians are negotiating with the new rulers in Syria for permission to continue using the strategically important naval base in Tartus. The Russians are prepared to pay for the base with Russian oil. The status of these negotiations was unknown. Report with photos: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/march/19/250319-royal-navy-shadow-russian-task-group-returning-from-syria-in-the-channel