One-year command of the Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) will be passed to Lithuania, Lithuanian Lt Cdr Andrius Širvys will take over the command from Cdr Indrek Hanson (Estonian Naval Force).
Command and control ship of the Lithuanian Naval Force „Jotvingis" (N42) also enters duty in BALTRON for one year, she will replace mine countermeasures vessel „Sūduvis" (M52) which has been representing Lithuania in BALTRON last year.
Change of BALTRON command will coincide with staff rotation. In the first half-year of duty Lithuanian naval officers will be accompanied by representatives of Latvian and Estonian naval forces; BALTRON staff is based in the command ship of the Squadron.
The new BALTRON commander Cdr Lt A. Širvys is an experienced naval officer whose career in the Lithuanian Naval Force began in 1997. He has been the captain of mine countermeasures vessel „Sūduvis" (M52), command and supply ships „Vėtra" (A41) and „Jotvingis" (N42). The mentioned ships have conducted half-year duty in BALTRON and were deployed to a spectrum of military training events and operations in the Baltic Sea and beyond under Cdr Lt A. Širvys' command. Last six months Cdr Lt A. Širvys served as Chief of Staff of BALTRON.
The Baltic Naval Squadron was established in 1998. The unit includes naval assets and multinational staff manned by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Purpose of BALTRON is to conduct search and neutralisation operations of ammunition remaining on the Baltic seafloor from World War I and World War II, and enhancing security of the Baltic territorial sea and exclusive economic zone. The Squadron also serves as a training platform before service in NATO's naval units.
For the media: for more information contact PR Officer of the Lithuanian Naval Force Lt (N) Antanas Brencius.
Picture by LNF.
