Purpose of the mission

The main mission of NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group No. 2 (SNMCMG-2) is to contribute to keeping the main ports of the Alliance and its naval bases open to traffic, as well as to enable amphibious operations for the projection of naval power ashore. Its main task is therefore the detection, positioning, identification and neutralization of bottom and moored mines.

The allied warships integrated into this group will therefore carry out constant patrols and exercises, in which they will implement and perfect NATO naval procedures to improve training and interoperability.

Minehunter ‘Duero’ is scheduled to participate in the international exercises ‘OLIVES NOIRES’ in France, ‘NUSRET’ in Turkey and ‘POSEIDON’ in Bulgaria, along with the rest of the SNMCMG-2 units.

In addition, during the time the ship is deployed under NATO’s ensign, she will support operation ‘Sea Guardian’, an operation designed to contribute to enhance the awareness of the maritime domain in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the protection against terrorist activities in the maritime environment.