NATO Ships Visit Stavanger, Norway
NATO Allied Maritime Command
Aug 11 2025
August 11, 2025 - Stavanger, Norway -- Standing NATO Mine Countermeasure Group 1 (SNMCMG1) comprised of His Majesty's Canadian Ships (HMCS) Edmonton and Yellowknife, and flagship Latvian Navy Ship (LVNS) Virsaitis (formerly His/Her Norwegian Majesty's Ship Vale) visited Stavanger, Norway from August 8 to 11, 2025.
SNMCMG1 is a multinational naval task force dedicated to ensuring the safety of maritime navigation by providing a constant and credible MCM capability to the Alliance. The group currently operates in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean on a rotational basis.
Despite environmental challenges brought on by Storm Floris enroute to Stavanger, the task group stood on, conducted operational activities, and arrived in port as previously scheduled. Working through environmental challenges provides allies the opportunity to advance interoperability in the face of unplanned circumstances. It furthers the shared understanding of each other's distinctive operating procedures, strengthens the defensive Alliance, and puts operational readiness to the test.
Once alongside in Stavanger, the ships' crews led targeted tours to onboard guests, experienced Norwegian culture, and dressed the ships overall with strings of international maritime signal flags along the masts to commemorate Latvia's 106th Navy Day. The port visit also provided the task force the opportunity to replenish the vessels before heading back to sea.
Quick Facts
· SNMCMG1 was formed in the Belgian port of Ostend on May 11, 1973, to ensure safety of navigation around the ports of the English Channel and northwest Europe. Originally called "Standing Naval Force Channel", its name was changed several times to reflect its expanding area of operation.
· This rotation of standing naval forces of SNMCMG1 operates under the command of Commander Jānis Auce onboard flagship LVNS Virsaitis.
Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM
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