On Monday, November 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., the tender “Elbe” will depart its home port of Kiel for the Aegean Sea. The supply ship, belonging to the Support Squadron, will assume the role of command platform and thus the German contribution to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 and the NATO Support Mission in the Aegean. The ship will replace the ocean-going tug “Rügen,” which has been serving as the command platform in the Aegean since the middle of the year.
For the commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Michelle Niehage, it will be an exciting time: “Due to operational training, the crew already has many days away from home. Now, on top of that, they will be deployed over Christmas and New Year’s. This is a particular challenge for everyone on board, but of course also for their families back home.” The boat and crew are expected back in Kiel in April 2026.
Background information
In addition to deployments mandated by the German Bundestag, the German Navy regularly participates in NATO’s multinational naval forces, such as Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2). The German Navy permanently provides ships and boats to this group. Participation in NATO forces is also one of Germany’s commitments to the alliance, even in peacetime. These NATO forces have existed for decades.
NATO’s activity in the Aegean Sea is NATO’s contribution to managing the refugee and migration crisis. It was agreed upon in February 2016 at the request of Germany, Greece, and Turkey with the aim of rapidly and significantly reducing the flow of refugees through the Aegean Sea. Through these activities, NATO intends to contribute to a comprehensive situational awareness picture for the Greek and Turkish coast guards as well as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex. NATO forces provide support through maritime surveillance and the exchange of situational information to assist the participating authorities in their efforts against human traffickers and their networks.