Stril Mar, a Simon Møkster-owned PSV, is participating in a NATO exercise to trial using civilian vessels to support military operations.
As part of the exercise 'Trident Juncture', Stril Mar’s civilian crew will be joined by a military crew from the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Maritime Combat Service Support unit.
The large-scale exercise started on 25 October and concludes on 7 November. It involves 50,000 participants from 31 NATO and partner countries, and involves 65 vessels, 250 aircraft and up to 10,000 vehicles. It is taking place in Norway and surrounding areas including the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea.
Stril Mar’s role in Trident Juncture is to trial the Ship Taken Out of Trade concept, in which a civilian vessel is taken out of its normal role to support military operations at sea. Is being used as a platform for maintenance, fuel supply and logistics support in the exercise.
MARCSS Kommandør Kaptein Frode Staurset said “To be able to test this capacity during Trident Juncture will enable the armed forces to support vessels that are in operation in a better way.
“Immediately, we will test the preparedness and civil society's ability and willingness to support the armed forces in the framework of the total defence.”
Delivered in March 2016 by Spanish shipbuilder Astilleros Gondán, Stril Mar is built to a Rolls-Royce UT776 WP design and measures 91 m in length by 20 m in breadth with a dwt of approximately 5000.
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