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NATO ships in Szczecin
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
On Friday, May 21, SNMCMG-1 ships will enter Szczecin with routine visits. The visit is mainly aimed at replenishing supplies and providing rest to crews before carrying out further tasks in the Baltic Sea region, including together with the forces of the Polish Navy Operation Solidar Belona.
The team's ships will enter Szczecin in the morning. These will be the flagship of the team – Belgian BNS GODETIA (A960) and five mine destroyers: Belgian BNS CROCUS (M9117), British HMS PEMBROKE (M107), Estonian ENS UGANDI (M315), Dutch HNLMS ZIERIKZEE (M862) and German FGS SULZBACH-ROSENBERG (M1058). The entire team is commanded by the Norwegian Navy officer Commander Jan Wijchers along with the international staff embarked on the flagship. Due to limitations related to the coronavirus pandemic, ships will not make their decks available to explore throughout their stay in Szczecin. Ship crews respect very strict restrictions and apply all preventive measures to protect themselves from COVID-19.
A visit to Szczecin will be an opportunity for crews to replenish ship supplies and prepare for further tasks at sea. The visit will end on Monday, May 24. After leaving Szczecin, the NATO Permanent Defence Force Team will carry out a number of tasks in the framework of the operation under the code name Solidar Belon. The operation will involve vessels and shore units separated from both the 8th Coast Defence Fleet and the 3rd Ship Fleet.
The main task of SNMCMG-1 ships is to maintain the safety of navigation by searching for, detecting and destroying dangerous submarines. In addition, the team's important task is to demonstrate solidarity between the members of the alliance and to carry out one of the most important common tasks, namely ensuring the safety of maritime communication routes. In this way, the team's ships form a mine defence system on sea basins known as the "Antimine Shield" for Europe. These forces may also be directed to support anti-terrorism operations, life-saving actions and emergency response. Working visits of NATO flag ships in Polish ports aim to develop friendly relations and mutual understanding of the conditions, work and equipment of seafarers. They are also used to exchange experience of carrying out tasks at sea.
Poland Polish Navy For years, it has been involved in the activities of the individual teams of allied ships. Ships of the 8th Coast Defense Flotilla, primarily mine destroyers with 13. The trawlers' squadron has been cyclically part of SNMCMG-1 since 2002, while the ORP Counter Admiral X. CZERNICKI was the SNMCMG-1 flagship three times, and for half of 2017, it served as the flagship of the NATO Permanent Defense Force Group 2 in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Source: 8th FOW
