Regele Ferdinand frigate to participate in two Mediterranean Sea international missions

Regele Ferdinand frigate left the Constanta Port on Monday to represent the Romanian Navy in two international missions in the Mediterranean Sea, September 27 - October 24, in line with Romania's commitments to NATO partners, according to a press statement released by the Romanian Navy.

Regele Ferdinand, under the commanded of Marian Ioan carrying a Puma Naval helicopter and a group of 164th Navy Special Op Division troops, will take part in the Mavi Balina international anti-submarine warfare exercise, organised by Turkey in the international waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, September 27 - October 4.

The exercise is aimed at strengthening co-operation and increasing interoperability with NATO organisations in the field of anti-submarine combat bringing together dozens of military ships and aircraft, submarines and special op detachments from Azerbaijan, Greece, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Romania, Spain, the US and Turkey. In addition, standard operating procedures will be implemented during the exercise to ensure regional maritime security and underwater threats combat.

"The second mission of Regele Ferdinand is scheduled for October 5-24 and it is a participation in the Sea Guardian sea operation in the Mediterranean Sea, with the Romanian frigate to be commanded by the Joint Forces National Command and its operational control exercised by the NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM)."

At the September 2014 NATO Summit in Wales in, the NATO heads of state or government approved the launch of a maritime security operation called Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the NATO's maritime strategy. The participation of the Romanian Navy in this maritime security operation ensures the fulfillment of the obligations taken up by Romania in regard to its contribution to ensuring the maritime security of the alliance.

"The participation for the second consecutive year in the Sea Guardian maritime security operation is the most important mission of the Romanian Navy in the theatres of war in the year of training 2018, and demonstrates that the Romanian Navy is capable of fulfilling missions up to NATO standards" - according to the Romanian Navy Staff. AGERPRES (RO - author: Dan Mihaescu, editor: Karina Olteanu; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)