Ukrainian ship joins NATO Operation Active Endeavour

The Ukrainian frigate URS Ternopil

Naples, Italy - 14 November 2008. URS Ternopil will operate, for the second time, under the NATO flag and stand ready to counter the common threat of terrorism at sea, as the Ukrainian ship will today contribute to Operation Active Endeavour (OAE), the NATO maritime contribution to the fight against terrorism, until 09 December 08.

Prior to joining the operation, the ship will be fitted with NATO-compatible communications equipment and the Turkish frigate TCG Giresun will also provide communications support.

URS Ternopil first participated in OAE from May to July 2007. The ship and crew performed well and proved their ability to contribute safely and effectively to the Operation. She was followed by other two Ukrainian ships, the URS Lutsk (November-December 2007) and the URS Hetman Sagaidachniy (May-August 2008).

OAE is conducted under the command of Allied Maritime Component Commander Naples, Vice-Admiral Maurizio Gemignani. Allied maritime assets conduct surveillance and monitoring operations of the major shipping lanes in the Mediterranean while an operations centre in Naples monitors and analyses information about merchant traffic in the Mediterranean. Currently 42 nations are sharing maritime data in a non-classified framework, delivering a continuously updated maritime picture. This increased knowledge of the environment has resulted in better use of the military forces and better understanding of the maritime traffic activities.

In 2004, NATO decided to enlist the support of partner nations, Mediterranean Dialogue countries and other selected nations. To date, Active Endeavour units have boarded one hundred and forty eight merchant vessels, with over 98000 ships having also been contacted.

Ukraine's continued active support for Operation Active Endeavour is a demonstration of its determination to co-operate with the Alliance in the fight against terrorism.