CONSTANTA, Romania -- Standing NATO Maritime Group Task Unit 02 (SNMG2 TU.02) left the port city of Constanta Monday after a successful weekend of community visits and strengthening ties with NATO allies.

While in Constanta, SNMG2 TU.02 senior leadership visited regional Romanian authorities to prepare for upcoming NATO exercises and to discuss maritime matters in the area. The comprehensive training exercises will consist of anti-air and anti-submarine warfare simulated maneuvers, in addition to repelling small vessel attacks and consort ship manoeuvers.

The Romanian Navy arranged for approximately 50 members of HMCS FREDERICTON to take an exclusive guided tour of the "Muzeul Marinei Romane” in Constanta. The maritime museum features military and commercial naval history specific to Romania and the Black Sea. FREDERICTON Sailors examined various preserved artefacts and reproductions of the area’s rich naval past while learning the history of the items on display. 

"As Standing NATO Maritime Group Task Unit 02 commander it is my pleasure to visit Romania and build relationships with our NATO counterparts,” said Commander Trevor MacLean, Commanding Officer, FREDERICTON. "By visiting our allies in their home countries and working with them in training exercises we are strengthening the ties of the Alliance. The training serials that SNMG2 TU.02 is undertaking in the Black Sea are designed to develop interoperability and enable us to effectively operate together in a complex environment.”

SNMG2 TU.02 includes HMCS FREDERICTON as the task unit commander, and ROS REGINA MARIA. During the scheduled training exercises they will be joined by Turkish submarines, aircraft and ships. SNMG2 TU.02 is in the Black Sea to reassure allies in the region of the Alliance’s collective defence as part of a regularly scheduled deployment.