Allied Maritime Command HQ MARCOM News Release

Nov. 1, 2017 Patrols the Eastern Mediterranean

MEDITERRANEAN SEA - Four NATO ships and one submarine, provided by , , Romania and , in cooperation with maritime patrol aircraft from and Turkey, conducted focused security patrols in international waters of the eastern Mediterranean Sea as part of NATO’s maritime counter-terrorism operation, Operation Sea Guardian (OSG) October 14 to 30, 2017.

The focused security patrol concentrated on gathering pattern-of-life information about maritime activities in the international waters of the eastern Mediterranean Sea from off the coast of Syria to off the coast of Israel and Lebanon in support of the Operation’s Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA) task.

While operating in the focus area, the ships identified 900 motor vessels, from large commercial shipping vessels to smaller fishing vessels. The group hailed 39 of those ships and were invited onboard four ships in support of building a better understanding of the activities occurring at sea in the eastern Mediterranean. The group worked in coordination with support from NATO assigned Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) to cover the area and monitor the maritime activities across the area. This information is relayed back to Allied Maritime Command and added to the NATO Recognized Maritime Picture (RMP), a common picture available to all Allies.

In support of the operation, both Greece and Turkey provided tankers, HS Prometheus and TCG Akar respectively, to support refuelling at sea to enable more hours at sea patrolling for the ships of the group.

Public Affairs Office - Allied Maritime Command (HQ MARCOM) Tel: +44 (0) 1923 956 747 – Mobile +44 (0) 7920467659 Email: publicaffairs@mc..int – www.mc.nato.int Follow us on Twitter @NATO_MARCOM and like us on Facebook @NATOMaritimeCommand While conducting the operation, the ships also trained together sending and receiving helicopters from ship to ship (cross-decking), conducting communication drills, anti- asymmetric warfare exercises and data link exchanges.

Operation Sea Guardian is a non-article 5 maritime security operation aimed at working with Mediterranean stakeholders to maintain maritime situational awareness, deter and counter terrorism and enhance capacity building.

Contact Information HQ MARCOM Public Affairs Office Tel: +44 (0) 1923 956 747 – Mobile +44 (0) 7917 370 830

Email: [email protected] – www.mc.nato.int