Last couple of days we had an increased activity here in Istanbul. First, on 12 May 2015 the ever-present Russian landing ships Novocharkassk and Azov returned from another Mediterranean trip. Two days later the much publicized visit of the PLAN ships 550 Weifang and 547 Linyi in the Black Sea has ended. The Jiangkai II (type 054A) class... Continue Reading →

  Today as a rare occasion, we have witnessed two warships from Peoples Republic of China passing through the Bosphorus. Two Jiangkai II (type 054A) class frigates 550 Weifang and 547 Linyi from PLAN North Sea Fleet made a northbound passage through the Turkish Straits. The destination of these Chinese ships were not disclosed. It is... Continue Reading →

On 28 April 2015 two Russian Ropucha class large landing ships, Alexander Otrakovski and Alexander Shabalin returned from their Mediterranean deployment. Date Number Name Direction Nationality 28.4.2015 031 Alexander Otrakovski Northbound Russia 28.4.2015 110 Alexander Shabalin Northbound Russia 17.4.2015 031 Alexander Otrakovski Southbound Russia 17.4.2015 110 Alexander Shabalin Southbound Russia 14.4.2015 109 USS USS Jason Dunham Southbound USA... Continue Reading →

  On 17 April 2015 two Russian Ropucha class large landing ships, Alexander Otrakovski and Alexander Shabalin made their southbound passage through Bosphorus. This is the first time that two Alexander's are sailing in group. Date Number Name Direction Nationality 17.4.2015 031 Alexander Otrakovski Southbound Russia 17.4.2015 110 Alexander Shabalin Southbound Russia 14.4.2015 109 USS USS Jason... Continue Reading →

On 5 April 2015, the Romanian Border Police boat MAI 1101 made her northbound passage through Bosphorus. It was interesting to see her as there is no record of her southbound passage. I assume that she was somewhere in the Aegean Sea to participate in a Frontex mission. On 8 April 2015, the Russian Ropucha... Continue Reading →

On 3 April 2015, the Arleigh Burke class destroyer of US Navy, DDG-109 USS Jason Dunham passed through Turkish Straits and entered the Black Sea. The last time she was in the region in 2012. The ship will visit Bulgaria and Ukraine during her stay in the Black Sea. The destroyers passage through Istanbul was... Continue Reading →

On 30 March 2015 Tuesday, the French frigate La Fayatte left the Black Sea and made her south bound passage through the Turkish Straits. Date Number Name Direction Nationality 30.3.2015 F-710 FS La Fayette  Southbound French 29.3.2015 031 Alexander Otrakovski Southbound Russia 29.3.2015 142 Novocharkassk Southbound Russia 28.3.2015 MB-31 Southbound Russia 24.3.2015 F-710 FS La Fayette... Continue Reading →

  On 29 March 2015, the Russian large landing ships Alexander Otrakovski and Novocharkassk made their southbound passage through Bosphorus. Date Number Name Direction Nationality 29.3.2015 031 Alexander Otrakovski Southbound Russia 29.3.2015 142 Novocharkassk Southbound Russia 28.3.2015 MB-31 Southbound Russia 24.3.2015 F-710 FS La Fayette Northbound France 24.3.2015 152 Nikolay Filchenkov Southbound Russia 21.3.2015 A-1442... Continue Reading →

On 28 March 2015, the Russian ocean going tug MB-31 made her southbound passage through Bosphorus. Date Number Name Direction Nationality 28.3.2015 MB-31 Southbound Russia 24.3.2015 F-710 FS La Fayette Northbound France 24.3.2015 152 Nikolay Filchenkov Southbound Russia 21.3.2015 A-1442 FGS Spessart Southbound Germany 21.3.2015 337 HMCS Fredericton Southbound Canada 21.3.2015 F-547 ITS Aliseo Southbound Italy... Continue Reading →