Sea Breeze-2011 participants arrive in Ukraine

31.05.2011 Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers issued preliminary permit to American rescue tug USS Grasp for entering Ukrainian territorial waters and calling at Odessa merchant seaport; the call will be held within the framework of the Sea Breeze exercise coming in June 6-18.

This decision was made at government's session on May 25 in reply to written request of the US Embassy in Ukraine, reported Ukraine's cabinet press service. According to the US Embassy's letter, absence of nuclear weapons on board surface ships, attack submarines and naval aircraft is the generally accepted principle of the US policy.

Reportedly, displacement of the USS Grasp rescue ship is 3,335 tons, length is 78 meters, beam is 15.5 meters, draft is 5.2 meters, crew includes 11 commissioned and 51 enlisted. Commanding officer is Peter Long.

The ship will take the sea each day in the period of June 11-16 since 8 am till 6 pm under the Sea Breeze exercise and return to Odessa seaport every night.

Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich endorsed the law allowing entries of foreign military units to Ukrainian territory in 2011 with the view to participate in multinational military exercises, reported presidential press service last week.

In total, there will be 12 exercises conducted in Ukraine, including two Ukrainian-American (Rapid Trident and Sea Breeze), two Ukrainian-Russian (Fairway of Peace and air defense exercise), and one – Ukrainian-Russian-Belarusian.

Ukrainian-American tactical naval exercise Sea Breeze will take place in Odessa and Nikolayev regions in accordance with the plan approved by president Yanukovich.