• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Navy Tug Collaborates with Bulgarian Navy in Black Sea Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060530-04
Release Date: 5/30/2006 12:42:00 PM

From Sealift Logistics Command Europe Public Affairs

VARNA, Bulgaria (NNS) -- U.S. Navy fleet ocean tug USNS Apache (T-ATF 172) arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, May 29, to participate in a dive exercise with Bulgarian naval forces.

During Apache’s visit, Sailors from the ship’s embarked Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 will be collaborating with Bulgarian naval dive unit personnel on a series of familiarization dives designed to exercise various dive tools and techniques and to encourage their adaptability working in a joint environment.

This is Apache’s fourth stop in a series of exercises the ship is conducting in support of the goals of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet (CNE-C6F), to strengthen enduring and emerging partnerships within the Black Sea and the greater European theatre. By building trust and cooperation through joint exercises with these nations, CNE-C6F hopes to promote regional stability and create an environment that is inhospitable to maritime or transnational threats of any kind.

Apache recently completed similar exercises in Albania, France and Croatia.

“This is a great opportunity for the U.S. and Bulgarian navies to work together,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Pete Sharpe, officer in charge of the dive unit aboard the ship. “All of us here aboard Apache are looking forward to diving with them, swapping stories and sharing information.”

The 226-foot Apache provides towing services and operates as a platform for divers in the recovery of downed ships and aircraft.

Apache is operated by 15 civilian mariners employed by Military Sealift Command (MSC). MSC operates the U.S. Navy’s fleet of noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that deliver combat equipment to troops, resupply Navy ships at sea, chart the ocean floor and perform a variety of other missions for the Department of Defense.