NF large ASW ship Severomorsk called at Hokonsvern

04.06.2010 This morning Northern Fleet (NF) large ASW ship Severomorsk called at Norwegian base Hokonsvern following frigate KNM Otto Sverdrup. According to NF Information Support Group, Russian mariners were met at the quayside by representatives of Norwegian naval base command and officials from Russian embassy. Official visit of Russian NF warship to Norwegian main naval base Hokonsvern is connected with joint exercise Pomor 2010.

In the first day of the visit Capt 1 rank Anton Speransky, deputy commander of NF antisubmarine force and Capt 1 rank Andrei Klimenko, commanding officer of large ASW ship Severomorsk paid protocol visits to Norwegian naval base commander and mayor of Bergen city. In addition, Russian mariners and their Norwegian counterparts discussed details of forthcoming exercise Pomor 2010; practical phase of the exercise will be held in June 7-11 in the Norwegian and the Barents seas.

During the visit NF servicemen will have an opportunity to see sights of Bergen which is the oldest city in Norway; visit naval base Hokonsvern and watch training process of Norwegian sailors. The crews of Severomorsk and Otto Sverdrup will play soccer and volleyball, compete in tug-of-war, and visit the ships.

In the morning June 7 Russian and Norwegian ships will sail off to start the first phase of the exercise Pomor 2010. According to Gen. Lt. Bernt Bruvold, Norwegian Chief of Staff, this exercise will make closer the Russian-Norwegian cooperation in the area of security. In contrast to previous "joint excursions", now Russian and Norwegian servicemen could learn to coordinate their work despite boundaries and technical differences.