The Dutch naval vessel Zr. ms. De Zeven Provinciën lost about 4,000 liters of lubricating oil last month. This is reported by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The ship lost oil in the Baltic Sea, where it was part of NATO’s Standing Nato Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) fleet.
This NATO flash force has been around since 2003, but was activated for the first time this year for the collective defense of the alliance due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Because the oil leaked out in small parts, the leak was not immediately noticeable. This allowed thousands of liters of oil to drain before the crew knew it. The leak was subsequently repaired, the cause of which is not yet known. The ship is now in Lisbon for a port visit.
SNMG1 is mainly active in the North Atlantic, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The Netherlands currently commands the fleet. The flash force should provide a deterrent to Russia, NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg said in February.
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