site.bta Eight NATO Navies Take Part in Exercise Breeze 2015

Eight NATO Navies Take Part in Exercise Breeze 2015

Varna, on the Black Sea, July 3 (BTA) - Over 30 warships and
auxiliary vessels manned by 1,700 naval personnel from eight
NATO member countries are taking part in the Bulgarian-hosted
Exercise Breeze 2015, the exercise commander, captain Kosta
Andreev, said on Friday. The drill is being conducted in
Bulgaria's territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive
economic zone in the Black Sea between July 3 and 12.

A patrol boat from Greece, a missile-carrying corvette from
Romania, a submarine and a guided-missile boat from Turkey, and
a fleet destroyer and an airplane from the United States are
involved. Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 has committed three
frigates from Portugal, the Netherlands and Romania. Standing
NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 has provided four vessels from
 Turkey, Spain and Romania. The Bulgarian Navy is represented by
 more than 15 warships, auxiliary vessels and boats plus two
helicopters. In addition, Bulgaria has committed two Air Force
planes and Land Force units. Twenty-one government agencies,
NGOs and commercial corporations complete the list of
participants.

Breeze 2015 is aimed at improving the interoperability of NATO
navies, Andreev said. The agenda features a UN-mandated maritime
 security operation for crisis response. Various activities will
 be practised, including fighting a fire on a passenger ship,
rescuing people in distress, repelling airborne attacks,
carrying out a submarine attack, and responding to asymmetric
maritime attacks.

The Bulgarian minehunter Tsibar will be certified during the
exercise.