NATO ships complete Malta Port visit

Courtesy Photo | The visit culminated in a Passage Exercise carried out between the six ships of SNMCMG2 and a P-51 patrol boat of the Malta Maritime Squadron. “This particular PASSEX was very instructive for all concerned,” said Capt. Abdulhamit Sener. “Malta made some very specific requests for training and we were more than happy to oblige.”  

NAPLES, ITALY

04.22.2012

Story by David Taylor 

NATO Maritime Command Naples

NISIDA, NAPLES, Italy - Counter Mine vessels of the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 yesterday completed a four-day port visit to La Valletta, Malta.

Beginning April 20 the port visit saw various courtesy visits to local dignitaries carried out by the Commander of SNMCMG2, Capt. Abdulhamit Sener embarked on his flagship TCG S. MEHMETPASA. A force reception was given and the crews were given the opportunity to visit the island.

An official visit to Malta by the Chief of Staff of Maritime Command Naples, gave Rear Adm. Jon Westbrook the opportunity to visit the Group and participate in the official functions. “This was a perfect opportunity to see the ships and the crews. They had just come from carrying out critical work in Operation Active Endeavour. This visit will go a long way to furthering the strong relationships NATO has with this important partner country,” said the admiral.

The visit culminated in a Passage Exercise carried out between the six ships of SNMCMG2 and a P-51 patrol boat of the Malta Maritime Squadron. “This particular PASSEX was very instructive for all concerned,” said Sener. “Malta made some very specific requests for training and we were more than happy to oblige.”

Malta is a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.The program is one of practical bilateral cooperation between individual Euro-Atlantic partner countries and NATO. It allows partners to build up an individual relationship with NATO, choosing their own priorities for cooperation.

The SNMCMG2 ships visiting Malta were:

TCG S. MEHMETPASA Command & Control Ship Turkey (Flagship)
FGS Sulzaback Rosenberg Minehunter German
ITS Alghero Minehunter Italy
TCG Akcakoca Minehunter Turkey
ESP Turia Minehunter Spain
HMS Ledbury Minehunter United Kingdom

• Date Taken: 04.22.2012
• Date Posted: 04.24.2012 09:37
• Story ID: 87230
• Location: NAPLES, IT