NATO Warships in Black Sea Naval Exercises
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.
Damaged Tanker Impounded
An oil tanker that blew up in the Black Sea this month killing two crew was impounded by Romania on Tuesday after its Bulgarian owners failed to pay a rescue operation bill of almost $1 million. A Romanian coast guard spokeswoman said two Bulgarian tug boats had tried to tow the 75,000-tonne "Mesta" away from just outside Constanta harbour before a 2:00 p.m. deadline for its owners to pay up. "The Mesta has now been seized by the coast guard," she said. Officials at Navibulgar, the company that owns the Mesta, were not immediately available for comment. The tanker, whose 32 other crew members were rescued while firefighters spent 15 hours putting out the blaze on May 8, is being guarded by one Romanian military vessel.
