Part of the permanent NATO-naval unit SNMG1 (Standing NATO Maritime Group 1) has been moored in the port of Rotterdam since today. In addition to the Dutch frigate “Zr.Ms. Tromp”, the German supply ship “FGS Rhön” and the Belgian multipurpose frigate “BNS Louise-Marie” are also among the units that have arrived.
With the port visit, the ships want to “make the role of NATO more visible and tangible for the public”, as stated in a recent press release.
Among other things, the unit is tasked with protecting critical underwater infrastructure such as power and data cables. The remaining three SNMG1 ships are currently in the Baltic Sea, where they are deployed as part of the NATO mission “Baltic Sentry” mission. Also in the NATO group is also patrolling the North Seato counteract possible acts of sabotage.
The SNMG1 is one of four permanently deployable NATO ship formations that are available for operations around the clock. The current task force is led by Dutch Commodore Arjen Warnaar.
After the weekend, the formation will continue its journey – with the next stop at the large-scale NATO exercise “Ramstein Flag”. Air operations are coordinated from the sea, particularly in the area of air defense. The “Zr.Ms. Tromp” provides real-time situation pictures and shares them with units on land, at sea and in the air – for a common, uniform understanding of the situation.
