Ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) arrived in Constanta, Romania for a scheduled port visit on July 17, ahead of their participation in the Romanian Navy-led Exercise SEA SHIELD 2015, during the Group’s deployment to the Black Sea.
Led by Rear Admiral Alberto Correia (Portuguese Navy), SNMG1 is currently composed of the flagship NRP D. FRANCISCO DE ALMEIDA (F 334 – Portugal), HNLMS TROMP (F 803 – Netherlands) and ROS REGELE FERDINAND (F 221 – Romania).
This port visit follows participating in the Bulgarian Navy-led Exercise BREEZE by both SNMG1 and Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2), operating in conjunction with ships from the Bulgarian, Romanian, Turkish, Greek and U.S. navies. While in Varna, Rear Admiral Correia met with Allied Maritime Command’s Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio, and the Chief of the Bulgarian Navy, Rear Admiral Mitko Petev, to discuss highlights of the exercise and lessons identified through the training received.
During the Constanta port visit, SNMG1 leadership will meet with Romanian local civilian and military authorities. These visits will build upon the discussions held between Rear Admiral Lazio and Romanian Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Nicolae Ciuca and Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Alexandru Mirsu in Bucharest earlier this week.
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Image: MARCOM