Breaking away from its usual duties in the North and Baltic Sea, NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 has sailed to the Mediterranean Sea where it will be contributing to the Mediterranean operation Sea Guardian.
Led by Norwegian frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup and commander Petter Kammerhuber, the SNMG1 will contribute to maritime situational awareness, counter-terrorism and capacity building in the region.
“Since we are now moving into the Mediterranean with NATO flags on the mast, it is natural that our eight vessels can contribute to the operation Sea Guardian,” said commander Petter Kammerhuber, who will be at the helm of SNMG1 through 2017.
“Some of our tasks include contributing to maritime situational awareness in the Mediterranean, protecting trade routes, deterring maritime terrorism and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” Kammerhuber further said.
In addition to the Sea Guardian operation, SNMG1 will take part in a number of exercises and make several port calls.