25.2.13
Five NATO warships from the Standing Maritime Group (SNMG1) will be arriving in Souda to re-supply and will depart on Tuesday. The ships are part of a permanent NATO rapid response force that operates in the Mediterranean and is comprised of ships from the Canadian, German, Dutch, British and American navies. The SNMG1 is also supported by Italian, Belgian, Danish, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish ships.
Ships are part of the group for six months, with the group commander changing every year. The current commander is Rear Admiral Georg von Matlzan of the German Navy, with German frigate “FGS Hessen” as the flagship. This particular NATO force deals with counterterrorism and piracy, and was last involved in test drills with the Norwegian Navy in February, for about a week.
The group commander met Regional Deputy Governor Apostolos Voulgarakis, with whom they discussed the natural and cultural beauties of Crete, as well as the local cuisine. According to the German officer, the local wine and preserved Venetian harbor of Chania impressed the SNMG1 crew members.
