BSF large landing ship Yamal prepares for BLACKSEAFOR activation

29.03.2011 Black Sea Fleet (BSF) large landing ship Yamal is going to represent Russia during spring activation of joint task group BLACKSEAFOR.

The activation starts in first decade of April in Turkish port of Istanbul; apart from the exercise episodes, it is planned to conduct festivities related to 10th anniversary of BLACKSEAFOR. Crews of Bulgarian, Georgian, Russian, Romanian, Turkish, and Ukrainian warships, naval commanders of all member countries, and all BLACKSEAFOR commanders will take part in the festive events.

During the activation the participating ships will call at ports of Sevastopol and Novorossiysk.

Yamal's crew has effectively carried out appropriate drills while preparation for BLACKSEAFOR. The ship is scheduled to sail off Sevastopol to participate in the international exercise on Apr 4.

BLACKSEAFOR naval co-operation task group was established in 2001. Each of the six Black Sea countries delegates one warship to the joint force. Main objectives are conducting of search-and-rescue joint exercises; humanitarian, counter-mine, and ecological operations; good will visits.