A boarding team comprising Italian marines from the NATO
flagship ITS SAN MARCO, in charge of Operation Ocean Shield, and assault forces of the Russian Federation ship SEVEROMORSK trained together in
counter-piracy activities as part of a bilateral exercise between NATO
and Russia in the Gulf of Aden on 26 February.The event was organised in the context of counter-piracy cooperation
agreed by the NATO-Russia Council (NRC). It was planned as a result of
recent meetings at sea between the two naval forces, and represents a
significant step forward towards NATO-Russia interoperability in
counter-piracy activities in the Indian Ocean.“This day will be a milestone in the cooperation between the
Russian Federation and NATO and, I’m sure, its effects will not only be
limited to counter-piracy activities but offers the prospect of other
types of constructive engagement in future.” said Rear Admiral Antonio Natale at the end of the exercise.The exercise was conducted in two main phases; during the first
phase, SAN MARCO played the part of a hijacked vessel with SEVEROMORSK
taking the role of a counter piracy vessel which sent an assault team to free her. In the second phase, SEVEROMORSK played the role of a vessel
involved in illegal weapons trafficking and SAN MARCO was a naval vessel looking for evidence of illegal activity and sent a boarding team to
inspect the vessel.
NAVY NEWS
06 March 2013 - 21:40
NATO and Russian Federation in Counter Piracy Exercise
A boarding team comprising Italian marines from the NATO flagship ITS SAN MARCO, in charge of Operation Ocean Shield,
NAVY NEWS
06 March 2013 - 21:40
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