Russia took over BLACKSEAFOR command

15.08.2011 Tenth activation of Black Sea joint task force BLACKSEAFOR started on Aug 15 in Novorossiysk, Russia. The task force was established on Apr 2, 2001 in Istanbul by Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The solemn command passage ceremony took place on the embankment next to Novorossiysk seaport where participating ships moored. Along with Russia's large landing ship Caesar Kunikov which has become the BLACKSEAFOR flagship, Novorossiysk hosts Bulgarian minesweeper Priboy, Romanian corvette Sebastian, Turkish frigate Yildirim, and Ukrainian minesweeper Cherkassy.

The ceremony was attended by naval commanders of Black Sea countries. All national flags of participating states were shaken out at the solemn parade, and national anthems were played.

Honorary guest Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief thanked his counterparts for warships well-prepared to the BLACKSEAFOR activation. As for Vysotsky, the Black Sea states have recently made considerable steps on the way of cooperation, achieved high level of interoperability, and what is the main thing, became more confident.

During the ceremony, former BLACKSEAFOR Commander Capt Constantin Ciorobea (Romania) handed over a saber specially made in 2003 in Bulgaria to his successor Capt 1 rank Yury Zemsky (Russia). Navy commanders of the Black Sea states put their signatures in a document confirming the Russian Federation took over the BLACKSEAFOR command.

It is planned to finish the BLACKSEAFOR activation on Aug 29. Till that date, the joint task force will call at ports of Trabzon (Turkey) and Varna (Bulgaria).

During the sea phase, the ships will practice tactical maneuvering, anti-boat/antisubmarine/antiaircraft warfare, communications, search-and-rescue of distressed vessel, and hold a headquarters exercise.