Boatfag Report
News Summary:
Several interesting tidbits.
PLAN carrier Liaoning is returning to its homeport of Quingdao. Sauce is 2 days old.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3082532/chinas-liaoning-aircraft-carrier-returns-home-month-training
US conducts ASW exercise in the Arctic. USS Porter and USS Donald Cook involved (working to find the OpArea for this ex, and both of these destroyers have great reps in the Nav)
https://maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-navy-conducts-anti-submarine-exercise-above-arctic-circle
10 kidnapped from tanker off Lagos
https://maritime-executive.com/article/report-ten-kidnapped-from-tanker-off-lagos
Captain of Isle-of-Man registered container vessel aboard Spirit of Hamburg in Colombia
https://gcaptain.com/captain-murdered-on-isle-of-man-registered-containership-in-colombia/
2 Iranians charged with trying to buy an oil tanker in violation of US law & sanctions (Quds involved)
https://maritime-executive.com/article/two-iranians-charged-in-connection-with-crude-tanker-purchase
On The Scope:
Asian Western Pacific
No change from yesterday in the South China Sea areas we've been watching around the disputed islands. Nothing unusual appearing in the Sea of Japan or off the Korean coast.
Australia, NZ and South Pacific
Nothing to report.
West Coast US and East Pacific
Typical collection of USN ships off San Diego. Looks like an oiler, USNS Henry Kaiser, is heading out. USS Mt Baker has gone south through the Lahaina Roads around Maui and is now heading west, back towards Pearl, at about 13 kts. Blackhawk has slipped off-scope after leaving Hawaii. The rest of the West Coast and nearby Pacific only has usual traffic.
Central Pacific to South America
Nothing to report.
South Atlantic
The ships anchored near Lagos are in an extremely tight bunch. I'd hate to have to drop anchor in those crowds. Many have armed guards and there are a couple of Nigerian patrol boats putting around. Couldn’t be cause the Vemohope just got jacked, could it?
Caribbean
Netherlands frigate Karel Doorman is still around the ABC’s currently between Aruba and Curacao, northerly heading at 13 kts. Nothing stands out along the Venezuelan coast. A Maersk
East Coast US & North Atlantic
Same ships as yesterday off the coast of NC, including a BIG one that could well be the USS Truman, the carrier stuck at sea because no one has the WuFlu. Nothing shakin’ in the English Channel or
GIUK Gap, North Sea and Northern Russian Coast
Nothing from Vlad’s Boys showing. Couldn’t find our boys on the USS Porter and Donald Cook, either, but since the Chins are getting frisky around Greenland I’d bet money they’re somewhere around there.
Mediterranean and Black Seas
Still quiet along the Syrian and Lebanese coasts. 7 or 8 tankers total there, mostly outbound. Port Said and the Suez are busy as usual. Libyan coast is very quiet, only a few cargo ships outbound.
Nothing stands out in current Black Sea traffic.
African Coast, Central Indian Ocean & Petrol Gulf
Both the Indian Navy and Netherlands Navy ships reported yesterday have moved farther north up the Gulf of Oman near the south end of the Strait of Hormuz. No significant naval activity in the Petrol Gulf or along the Iranian coast. Likewise, the Gulf of Aden looks clear, possibly one pirate interdiction on the north side of the Somalian horn. Nothing further to report.
Eastern Indian Ocean
Nothing to report.
>Would love to hear from Anons, do you like this format of BF reports? News w/ sauce up top in the intel summary, area reports below? I am thinking of truncating to leave off areas with nothing to report. No need to report what isn’t there, right? I did this full smash to save a format.
Let me know if this suits you guys. Appreciate suggestions.
Took a while to put this together, so I am tapping out for the evening. Happy hunting, frens.
“Our Captain is very good to us, he dipped his prick in phosphorus. It shed a light all through the night to guide us through the Bosphorus.”