US, Romanian Navy Ships Conduct NATO Underway Engagements in Black Sea

The forward deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) participated in a bilateral underway engagement with ships from the Romanian Navy in the Black Sea, April 23.

“The exercise was aimed at improving maritime capabilities and reassuring our NATO allies and partners of our commitment to the alliance and to their security”, said the U.S. Navy in its release.

Romanian ships ROS Regina Maria (F 222) and ROS Marasesti (F 111) were participants in the exercise with Romanian sailors conducting visit, board, search and seizure evolutions aboard Donald Cook. Donald Cook’s crew acted as suspects during the training evolution.

The U.S. Navy, on a normal and routine basis, operates ships in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law.

Donald Cook and Taylor are deployed in a multi-mission role in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to contribute to regional maritime security, perform search and rescue activities, support humanitarian missions, conduct bilateral and multilateral training missions, and to support NATO operations and deployments throughout the region.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other partners in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.

[mappress]
Press Release, April 25, 2014; Image: Navy