SNMCMG1 Visits Riga, Latvia

On August 15-17 Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1), currently under a six-month command of Commander Giedrius Permeneckas of the Lithuanian Navy, conducted a port visit to Riga, Latvia.

When the vessels moored at Riga, SNMCMG1 Commander Giedrius Premeneckas and other ship commanders paid visits to Brigadier General Juris Zeibarts, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Latvian Armed Forces and Mayor of Riga Nils Ušakovs.

On August 16 the command and supply ship JOTVINGIS hosted a reception for representatives of Latvia’s governmental institutions, diplomatic corps and SNMCMG1 ships at invitation of Ričardas Degutis, the Lithuanian Ambassador in Latvia, SNMCMG1 Commander Giedrius Permeneckas and Defence Attaché of Lithuania to Estonia, Latvia and Finland Lieutenant Colonel Petras Montvilas. A commemorative ceremony held to mark the Battle of Salaspilis which took place in 1605 was attended by Ambassador of Lithuania in Latvia Ričardas Degutis, Ambassador of Poland in Latvia Jerzy Marek Nowakowski, SNMCMG1 Commander an representatives of SNMCMG1 staff, Commanders of the LNS command and supply JOTVINGIS and Poland’s warship FLAMING Lieutenant Commander Laimonas Banys and Lieutenant Commander Jaroslaw Tuszkowski respectively and members of their ship crews. The participants laid flowers wreaths at the memorial stone for the Battle of Salaspilis.

On the occasion of Riga Day, on Saturday and Sunday, the public had an opportunity to visit SNMCMG1 vessels moored at Riga Cruise Terminal.

The visitors were also able to tour the SNMCMG1 flagship, command and supply vessel of the Lithuanian Navy, LNS JOTVINGIS (N 42), hosting the international SNMCMG1 staff aboard. A photo display reflecting the first decade of the Lithuanian and other Baltic States’ NATO membership was exhibited aboard during the port visit.

5 other SNMCMG1 mine hunters and sweepers were also available for visiting: the Polish Navy’s ORP FLAMING, the German Navy’s FGS DATTELN, the Norwegian Navy’s HNoMS KARMOY, the Latvian Navy’s LVA TALIVALDIS, and the Estonian Navy’s ENS SAKALA.