On Monday, 19 January 2026 at 10 a.m., the minehunting boat "Fulda" will leave its home port of Kiel. The boat from the 3rd Minehunting Squadron will take over the German contribution to the permanent NATO organisation SNMCMG 1 (Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1) for the next few months. The 40-strong crew of the "Fulda", under the command of frigate captain Michael Voigt, will be deployed in the Baltic Sea during the planned deployment period. The programme for the boat and crew includes the Dynamic Move, Open Spirit and Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) manoeuvres. Commander Voigt summarises the plans for the coming months as follows: "Long periods of absence, but also the task and function of a NATO unit in the context of current security policy are things that are new to some of the crew members." He sees the biggest challenges in the weather conditions of the first quarter. The "Fulda" is expected to be underway for NATO until mid-June.

Text: PIZ Marine