Minehunter “Duero” joins the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two

·       Spain contributes to the SNMCMG-2 every year with a mine-hunting vessel

Minehunter M-35 “Duero” is now integrated within the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG-2), from the French port of Toulon.

After a conditioned stage of enlistment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the “Duero” departed on Sunday the 20^th of September, accompanied by the minehunter M-31 "Segura". During the transit to Toulon both crews were trained in communications exercises and replenishment and tug manoeuvres at sea. As they passed through the Gulf of Lion, the sea was calm and both minehunters encountered several electrical storms.

Minehunter “Duero” plans to participate in the international exercises “Olives Noires” in France, “Nusret” in Turkey and “Poseidon” in Bulgaria along with the rest of the ships members of the SNMCMG-2.

Throughout the navigation as a member of the Allied Group, the minehunter “Duero” will also participate in the “Sea Guardian” operation, aimed at contributing to safety through knowledge of the maritime environment in the Mediterranean. 

SNMCMG-2 is one of the four maritime components of the NATO standing immediate reaction force. Its main mission is to contribute to maintaining freedom of navigation, as well as to enable amphibious operations for the projection of naval power on land. This goal is achieved through the detection, localization, identification and neutralization of mines.