MOSCOW. Nov 25 (Interfax-AVN) -- NATO and Russian ships will assemble on Thursday in the port of Taranto, Italy to prepare to conduct bilateral sea training in the Ionian Sea due on Friday, the NATO press service reported.
"Two units from the NATO Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), the Greek frigate HS Bouboulina (flagship of STANAVFORMED) and the US destroyer USS Mahan will be at anchor today, together with the Russian destroyer Smetlivy and the frigate Pytlivy, to conduct a series of preparatory meetings and static drills to finalize the procedures to be practiced tomorrow, during a 'passage exercise' (PASSEX)," the report reads.
"The PASSEX will be aimed at familiarizing the RF Navy units with NATO naval procedures. It will consist of basic interoperability activities and will include ship maneuvering, helicopter transfer operations, communications exercises and boarding demonstrations. Exchange of personnel will aid information flow and support safety requirements," the report says.
"This exercise is independent from Operation Active Endeavor (OAE) as currently the Russian Navy is not part of that operation," the press service reports.