Air defence and command frigate HNLMS De Ruyter left her home port of Den Helder on 12 January to serve as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1).
This NATO maritime group will be under Dutch command for a year from 23 January.
On that day, Dutch Commodore Ben Bekkering will take over command of the maritime group in the Italian port of Taranto. During the year, the ships’ tasks will include maritime operations in the Mediterranean and counterpiracy operations around the Horn of Africa. The maritime group will also take part in two major international exercises. HNLMS De Ruyter will be relieved by HNLMS Evertsen in April.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , January 19, 2012; Image: defensie