Frigate King Ferdinand together with a Puma Naval Helicopter and a Naval Special Operations Forces Squad on board left Constanta Military Harbor for the Mediterranean on Friday, 18 October, in order to participate in NATO Operation Sea Guardian 19 (OSG) between 18 October-7 November, as well as in Multinational Exercise Dogu Akdeniz organized by Turkey, over 9-20 November.

The main goal of Operation Sea Guardian from the Mediterranean is the deterrence of the illegal activities conducted on the Southern Flank of NATO and EU by monitoring the maritime traffic. The operation is conducted by the NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM).

By participating in the NATO-led missions, exercises and operations, the Romanian Naval Forces contribute to the Alliance effort for ensuring the collective security measures and demonstrate that Romanian is a partner which meets its commitments.

Throughout the mission, Frigate King Ferdinand will make stop-overs in Aksaz (Turkey), Alexandria (Egypt), Haifa (Israel) and Limassol (Cyprus) Harbors. Naval diplomacy activities, visits and meeting with the local civilian and military officials are planned to take place in Alexandria, Haifa and Limassol Harbors.

As a first, the Romanian Naval Forces, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Romanians Worldwide invited members of the Romanian local communities from Egypt, Israel and Cyprus to visit King Ferdinand Frigate. Part of the cultural activity conducted by Mangalia Military Club will be presented onboard of the frigate by exhibiting certain paintings of Niculae Gageanu and Alexandru Ghinea painters-members of the Union of the Plastic Artists from Romania-depicting naval subjects, as well as the novels Povestile Marii Negre, written by Cristian Cealera and Lotus stelar by Emilia Dabu. The children will receive symbolic gifts made by the military students of the Romanian Naval Forces institutions.

The ship is headed by Captain Marian Ioan with a crew consisting in 240 soldiers (out of which 9 are women) with an average age of 30.

The Press Office