Last weekend we had three very special visitors to Pointe-Noire - the Italian Navy's 30th Naval Group. The flagship was the aircraft carrier, Cavour, escorted by the guided missile frigate, Bergamini and the replenshipment ship, Etna. They are currently conducting a circumnavigation of Africa, promoting Italian industry, exercising with regional navies, showing the flag (diplomacy) and humanitarian operations.
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| Italian Aircraft Carrier Cavour arriving in Pointe-Noire |
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| The 30th Naval Group are circumnavigating Africa |
Jack and Mark both got the opportunity to tour the Cavour on the weekend whilst I was duty engineer onboard. Jack went with his awesome science teacher, Kat, and Mark went with his best buddy, Eli.
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| Jack and his awesome science teacher, Kat |
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| Jack and an Italian Marine Helicoptor |
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| Jack, checking out the hardware. |
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| Jack and Kat on the ski ramp before they were shouted at in Italian to get down. |
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| Jack on the flight deck |
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| Sarah Kate, Jack and Kat |
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| Kat and Jack |
I had the chance to go over the afternoon they arrived to discuss assistance they wished to offer us and for a brief tour. It is a beautiful ship, very well fitted out and more modern than the US carriers I have visited before.
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| Africa Mercy across the harbour |
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| Bergamini and Etna |
Whilst in port the engineers from the carrier group gave us some assistance fault finding on one of our main freezer systems that has been giving us some problems and the divers from Etna plugged one of our overboard discharges so I could repair a valve that had failed.
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| Escort by Congolese Navy patrol boat |
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| Harry, waving goodbye. |
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| Cavour, sailing......no tugs required. |
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| Cavour, departing. |
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| Home - Africa Mercy |
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