The Spanish Navy frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ set sail from the Sarayburnu pier in Istanbul to participate in the counter-terrorist operation ‘Active Endeavour’ in the Mediterranean Sea.
The ship is integrated into NATO’s Standing Naval Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2) along with the Canadian frigate ‘Regina’ and the Turkish frigate ‘Kemalreis’.
During the next two weeks the SNMG-2 will conduct a series of maritime operations to prove that the Alliance is capable of deterring, defending and protecting its members against possible terrorist actions.
The ‘Cristóbal Colón’, under the command of Commander Enrique Núñez de Prado, is scheduled to arrive at Málaga on July 5th where the SNMG-2 change of command ceremony will take place. During the last year, the Flag Officer of this NATO task group has been the Spanish Navy Rear-admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río, who held command on board three different F-100 frigates.
[mappress] Press Release, June 30, 2014; Image: Spanish Navy