Today the Fuel tanker "Spessart" under the command of Captain Rolf-Heinrich von Bebern (55), left the naval harbour of Kiel to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Aegean. Once in the area of operations, the civilian-crewed fleet tanker "Spessart" support the frigate "Schleswig-Holstein", which had already set off for the Mediterranean in mid-August. The main task of the Fuel tanker "Spessart" will be refuelling and supplying the other SNMG 2 ships with fresh water and fuel. After leaving port, the crew will first go on an exercise in the North Sea before continuing their journey to the Aegean in mid-September. The "Spessart" is expected back shortly before Christmas.
NATO is providing support in the Aegean Sea area - the ships have no sovereign powers. It is not their task to stop vessels or take action against smugglers - neither in foreign territorial waters nor on the high seas. Their task is to provide situational awareness.
After peaking at around 853,000 people crossing the Aegean in 2015, the number initially fell sharply in the following years. In 2019, 83,300 migrants were registered in the Aegean. This figure includes land border crossings. From January to the end of May 2020, around 7,800 border crossings were registered. The German Armed Forces are participating with a warship and the unit is led by a captain at sea. See also the article Change of flag in the Aegean
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