Between the 12th and 20th of November, the Spanish Navy Maritime Action Staff participated in the multinational exercise ‘MNEX-13’ of naval-cooperation with merchant shipping.
This exercise, organized every two years, is designed to enhance interoperability and training of NCAGS personnel (Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping) of Allied nations, and to improve existing cooperation procedures with merchant shipping.
MNEX-13 was simultaneously carried out in Bergen (Norway), Toulon (France), Marmaris (Turkey), Athens (Greece), Hamburg (Germany) and Cartagena. The Spanish Navy provided a DNE (Deployable NCAGS Element) located at the Maritime Action Staff Headquarters in Cartagena. It was made up of personnel from the Spanish, Dutch and Polish Navies.
This multinational exercise was organized by the Joint Command of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Nearly 80 officers and non-commissioned officers from nine countries took part in the exercise.
NATO’s NCAGS concept was implemented in 2003 replacing the former NCS (Naval Control of Shipping). It was established to support cooperation between military operations and their influence on civilian shipping. Benefits for civilian shipping are: enhanced safety and security, reduced delays when transiting through military areas of operation, continued operation of commercial maritime transport system and improved threat response, among others.
[mappress] Press Release, November 28, 2013; Image: Spanish Navy