The August 06 BLACKSEAFOR activation will occur between August 1 and 25, 2006 in the Black Sea. This is a regional initiative with the participation of Bulgaria, Russian Federation, Georgia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. Romania, by Commander Alexandru Mirsu has the BLACKSEAFOR tactical command since August 2005.

The Romanian Navy is represented by Contraamiral Eustatiu Sebastian corvette commanded by Captain Commander Constantin Olteanu, with 103 sailors on board.

During the common training, the ships will perform the anti air combat exercises and the anti surface ships combat, maneuvers and evolutions according to NATO/PfP proceedings, the exercises of communications, search and rescue mission on the sea, fight against mines, maintenance of ship vitality and control of a suspect ship. Also, during this activity the participant ships will stop in Novorossiysk Bay (Russian Federation), Sevastopol Bay (Ukraine) and Batumi Bay (Georgia).

A military ceremony of the BLACKSEAFOR command handing over and receiving, between Romania and the Russian Federation will occur August 5, in Novorossiysk Bay. The Russian Federation will receive the tactical command for a year and the new commander will be Commander Mikhail Sukhval.


The aim of the BLACKSEAFOR is to contribute in the strengthening of the friendship, good relations and trust between the Black Sea countries, in the increase of stability and peace in the region and the increase of interoperability between the participant Navies.

The first BLACKSEAFOR activity was in 2001. Every year, the command of the Group is taken by every other country in alphabetical order. During a mandate, the ships are visiting one bay in every Black Sea country. During the April 2007 activity they will visit the bays in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

Navy Staff