Standing Nato Maritime Group News

The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) announced that Mark Heward has joined its team as Director. Heward came aboard with MITAGS in October 2022, after retiring from a 22-year active service career in the Royal Navy.“We are thrilled to welcome Mark Heward aboard as the Director of MITAGS. Mark’s underway time, leadership, management and training experience together with being fully STCW qualified and his continuing education experience are a rare combination,” said Eric Friend, MITAGS Executive Director.

The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) said Friday that Mark Heward had joined as Director of MITAGS.Heward came aboard with MITAGS in October 2022, after retiring from a 22-year active service career in the Royal Navy.Eric Friend, MITAGS Executive Director, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Heward Heward aboard as the Director of MITAGS. Mark’s underway time, leadership, management, and training experience, together with being fully STCW qualified…

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, navies adjusted how they operate at home and while deployed, to keep their forces ready for any missions as they keep their Sailors, families, communities, as well as allies and partners safe from the coronavirus.Navies have taken a number of prudent preventative measures to limit outbreaks, mitigate cases of infection and reduce the community spread of the virus.Speaking during his May 29 “On The Horizon: Navigating the European and African Theaters” podcast, Admiral James G. Foggo III, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, said The U.S.

“Freedom” – the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic governmentIt has been decades since international relations in the world order dictated true competition for sea control, sea lines of communication, access to world markets, and diplomatic partnerships. However, it is becoming increasingly alarming that nations such as Iran, China and Russia seek to accumulate/consolidate power and re-define international maritime norms, potentially at the peril of diplomatic…

Physical bunker supplier arranged delivery of marine fuels to NATO navy ships in Poti, Georgia.Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) under the direction of Royal Navy Commodore Mike Utley, conducted a port visit in Poti, Georgia May 14 to May 17 with four ships from the group: Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan (flagship), Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik, Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand and Bulgarian frigate BGS Drazki.“In general, physical bunker supply in Georgian ports, available by tank trucks alongside berth.

The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) departed Aksaz, Turkey, Nov. 9 after conducting a regularly scheduled port call. While Donald Cook was in port, Sailors attended multiple planning sessions, a reception for participants and a press conference for exercise Dogu Akdeniz 2017. After departing Aksaz, the ship and crew participated in a photo exercise for Dogu Akdeniz. "Our time in Aksaz was a great experience," said Cmdr. Matt Powel, commanding officer of the Donald Cook. "Our first evolution after departing went without a hitch," Powel said. "Aksaz, was a very beautiful port and our short stay was very beneficial," said Cmdr. Kelley Jones, executive officer of the Donald Cook. "Our hosts were very generous and provided superb support.

Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) has completed its third deployment into the Black Sea under the command of Captain Ramazan Kesgin, Turkish Navy. SNMCMG2 started its deployment on July 8 in support of NATO’s assurance measures regarding Alliance resolve and commitment to collective defense, and to enhance maritime security in the region. SNMCMG2 included the flagship TCG CEZAYIRLI GAZI HASAN PASA (Turkey) and the mine counter-measures vessels TCG EDINCIK (Turkey), ESPS TURIA (Spain) and the ROS SLT. ALEXANDRU AXENTE (Romania).

The German flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) FGS BONN is the first NATO ship to enter the area of activity for a first patrol around the Greek island of Lesbos. Over the weekend, NATO had expanded the area of activity into the territorial waters of Turkey and Greece, in close coordination with both Allies. NATO also expanded its cooperation with the EU’s border agency Frontex. “We are able to support the local authorities with our sensors, amplifying their capabilities.

NATO ships are on their way to the Aegean Sea to help Turkey and Greece crack down on criminal networks smuggling refugees into Europe, the alliance's top commander said on Thursday. Hours after NATO defence ministers agreed to use their maritime force in the eastern Mediterranean to help combat traffickers, Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Philip Breedlove said he was working quickly to design the mission. "We are sailing the ships in the appropriate direction," Breedlove told a news conference, and the mission plan would be refined during the time they were en route. "That's about 24 hours," he said. The plan, which was first raised only on Monday by Germany and Turkey, took NATO by surprise and is aimed at helping the continent tackle its worst migration crisis since World War Two.

NATO, EU mission to help target traffickers in Aegean Sea. NATO ships are on their way to the Aegean Sea to help Turkey and Greece crack down on criminal networks smuggling refugees into Europe, the alliance's top commander said on Thursday. Hours after NATO defence ministers agreed to use their maritime force in the eastern Mediterranean to help combat traffickers, Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Philip Breedlove said he was working quickly to design the mission. "We are sailing the ships in the appropriate direction," Breedlove told a news conference, and the mission plan would be refined during the time they were en route. "That's about 24 hours," he said.

NATO’s Submarine Warfare Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 2015 (DYMA 15) began friday off the Sicilian coast, with ships, submarines, and aircraft and personnel from 9 Allied nations converging on the Central Mediterranean Sea for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare training. Submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, under the control of NATO Submarine Command (COMSUBNATO), will join 5 surface ships from France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the United States under the command of Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG-2) Rear Admiral Jörg Klein (German Navy). Host nation Italy is providing support from both the Augusta Naval Base and the Sigonella Air Base in Catania.

Naval forces from 10 NATO nations and Sweden have launched one of its biggest-ever anti-submarine exercises in the North Sea in Norway to practice detecting and hunting submarines in an annual exercise whose real-world relevance has grown in the past year. Dubbed 'Dynamic Mongoose', the training pits submarines from Germany, the U.S., Sweden and Norway against surface ships employing a suite of sonar, sensors and maritime air patrols. The exercises are expected to last until May 13 and involve more than a dozen warships and submarines, as well as planes and helicopters. Photos of the first maneuvers were released on the Facebook page of NATO Maritime Command.

NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) have completed their participation in joint NATO training exercises and maritime situational awareness operations in the Black Sea. Warships of from six NATO countries – the US, Canada, Turkey, Germany, Italy and Romania – took part just 300 kilometers of Crimea. The series of naval exercises in the Black Sea off the Romanian coast is held ahead of the one year anniversary of Russia’ annexation of Crimea. Russia has accused the alliance of "aggressive war games", saying there could be serious consequences for the settlement of the Ukraine conflict. NATO, meanwhile, insists no additional plans have been made since Russia increased its military presence in the region.

Five ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) reached on Saturday morning the Naval Station Varna at the Black Sea coast to take part in joint training with Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish vessels. As a result of the gale-force winds, most of the ships failed to drop anchor, with the exception of ITS ALISEO (Italy). Bulgaria will deploy its frigate Drazki for the exercise, which is due on March 9, Defense Ministry officials say. Led by Rear Admiral Brad Williamson (USA N), SNMG2 is currently comprised of the flagship USS Vicksburg (CG 69), HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337), TCG Turgutreis (F 241), FGS Spessart (A 1442), ITS Aliseo (F 574), and ROS Regina Maria (F 222).

Six NATO warships, including Turkish, Bulgarian and Romanian vessels, have arrived to the Black Sea to start joint training exercises. NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) arrived today in the Black Sea to operate and train with ships from the Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish Navies, according to NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) press release. Marine Group Two is comprised of six ships — Vicksburg, Fredericton, Turgutreis, Spessart, Aliseo, and Regina Maria, according to MARCOM. The joint training, led by US Rear Adm. Brad Williamson, will include simulated anti-air and anti-submarine warfare exercises, small boat attacks and ship-handling maneuvers, the press release stated.

The operating area for NATO’s counter-terrorism task group, Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2), covers 2.5 million square kilometers of vast open space from Gibraltar to the Suez Canal, from the shores of Tripoli to the Turkish beaches. A NATO maritime force tasked with covering so much water relies on logistics support from multiple nations, ashore and afloat, to stay engaged in the vital counter-terrorism Operation Active Endeavor (OAE). Last week three different NATO nations provided that support to SNMG2 ships during their deployment in the Mediterranean Sea: the U.S.

NATO disrupts pirate mother ship responsible for the attack on MV Montecristo. Following NATO's successful release of the pirated Italian merchant vessel, MV Montecristo, earlier last week, the naval units contributing to NATO's counter piracy operation succeeded in locating and disrupting the suspected pirate mother ship responsible for the attack. Successful coordination of military assets and information sharing amongst naval units operating in the region made it possible to locate the pirate dhow which was stopped whilst heading towards the Somali coast.

In the last few days the number of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has increased highlighting the fact that now the monsoon is weakening, the pirates are once again ready to attack merchant ships transiting through the Indian Ocean. MC Northwood's Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hank Ort (NLD N) states, "in the last few years, it has been the case that come October when the South West monsoon weakens, the pirates have been able to put to sea and we have seen the number of attacks on merchant vessels increase.

After busy months on patrol in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin, a task force of NATO warships on March 12 handed over their counter-piracy mission, (Operation Ocean Shield) to the new task force of NATO ships which had sailed to the area to take up the mission. NATO warships have been conducting counter piracy patrols off the Horn of Africa, an area of strategic importance, since October 2008. On March 12 it was the turn of the five warships from the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two, who currently come from the UK (flagship), Greece, Italy, Turkey and the U.S. to pick up the baton of this ongoing mission. Speaking about the handover between the two NATO groups…

NATO’s contribution to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden entered a new phase on 17 August after the North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved Operation Ocean Shield. This new mission builds on the experience gained during Operation Allied Protector, NATO’s previous counter-piracy mission, and develops a distinctive NATO role based on the broad strength of the Alliance by adopting a more comprehensive approach to counter-piracy efforts.

Seven ships, from six NATO navies, transited the , on their way to conduct both anti-piracy duties and visit NATO Partner nations in the Gulf region. In response to a UN request, NATO defense ministers last week authorized NATO naval vessels to help protect World Food Program ships carrying desperately needed supplies to conflict-ridden . This presence will also help to deter acts of piracy that continue to threaten the region. Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) already was scheduled to conduct a series of Gulf port visits and will take on the anti-piracy role off the coast of .

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead speaks in honor of the Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale awardees, Cmdrs. Frank J. Olmo and Craig A. Clapperton at the Hall of Heroes inside the Pentagon. The Vice Admiral Stockdale Leadership Award is named after James B. Stockdale, who was credited with having a naval career that symbolized the excellence of leadership. The award is given annually to officers below the rank of captain who have commanded a ship, submarine or an air squadron. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Chief of Naval Operations Adm.

Yesterday, HMCS Toronto wasconducting a search and rescue operation, at the request of the Yemen coast guard, to locate nine people believed to be at sea after a volcanic eruption occurred on Sunday on the island of Jazirt Atta-Ir, about 140 kilometers from Yemen in the Red Sea. At the time of the eruption, the NATO fleet was sailing north towards the Suez Canal. Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto is currently deployed on Operation SEXTANT, Canada’s maritime contribution to the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) fleet in support of the NATO Response Force (NRF). The Halifax-class patrol frigate departed Halifax on July 20, 2007 for a five-month deployment during which it will conduct operations in the Mediterranean and circumnavigate Africa.