Naval exercise of Black, Mediterranean sea countries to start on Saturday

Multinational naval exercises of the countries in the Black sea and Mediterranean sea regions will start on Saturday in the Black sea, not far from Bulgaria.

The exercises with the code name "Breeze-2002" will be held within the framework of the NATO program "Partnership for peace", as RIA Novosti learned at the Ukrainian defense ministry's press service on Friday.

About 30 ships and 5 airplanes from Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Ukraine, France, as well as ships of the US Navy 6th fleet will take part in the maneuvers. Ukraine will be represented by the Vinnitsa corvette.

During the exercises, the Navy will train tactical ways of interacting in conducting peacekeeping operations. The scenario envisages search and "destruction" of a submarine, tactical maneuvering, cargo transferring in motion, control of navigation, and artillery fire.

The participants will also conduct search-and-rescue operations for rendering assistance to a "damaged" ship, tow it, escort naval convoys with humanitarian cargoes on board. A special program provides for training ship-airplane interaction.