AMSTERDAM - Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) under command of Commander Peter Ramboer of the Belgian Navy made a port call in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on March 9th, 2018.

 

The group has conducted a routine port visit to Amsterdam as part of their annual schedule of operations. The visit included courtesy calls with local authorities. The crew hosted an Open Ship for visitors on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11th of March. The visit is a visible demonstration of NATO’s continuous presence to ensure national sovereignty through collective defense.

 

"After two months of deployment we are happy to enter the port of Amsterdam, the home country of the flag ship of our group,” said Commander Ramboer. "We are proud to tell the local community in Amsterdam that we have found 23 mines and 4 torpedoes so far. Since we have sailed we have grown in numbers with staff and crews of 8 different NATO countries on board of a British, a Dutch, a German and a Norwegian ship. They are all working perfectly together to ensure the safety of our shipping lanes that are so vital to our welfare ashore.”

 

Prior to the visit in Amsterdam, the group conducted mine clearance operations in Oslo, Norway. Last week the group conducted mine counter measures operation in the German Bight. Furthermore the Norwegian mine countermeasures vessel Otra joined the group for maneuvering and force integration exercises.

 

The group is one of four groups of ships which make up the maritime portion of the NATO Response Force and provide a crucial skillsets to keep sea lanes and ports open in times of crisis. In peacetime, SNMCMG1 takes part in different multinational exercises and trains with NATO members and partners to enhance interoperability and maintain warfighting skills.