For the first time in 9 years, a Marine Guard ship went to Turkey on an unofficial friendly visit.

For the first time in 9 years, a Marine Guard ship went to Turkey on an unofficial friendly visit.

The flagship of the Marine Guard “Hryhorii Kuropiatnykov” will visit colleagues on the other side of the Black Sea at the invitation of the Coast Guard of the Republic of Turkey.

It is quite symbolic that the ship of the Marine Guard will arrive in Istanbul on Ukraine’s Independence Day. And today, on the Day of the State Flag of Ukraine, the maritime guards held a ritual of raising the state flag on the high seas, which is sacred for all sailors.

The night before, while seeing off the Marine Guard ship for the first time from Odessa, the leadership of the Regional Directorate, respecting maritime border traditions, wished the crew fair winds and following seas.

In 2012, the Project 205P Tarantula Marine Guard ship made the crossing from the Crimean Peninsula to Istanbul, as experienced border guard sailors recall. But the ship of project 1241.2 will make such a crossing for the first time.

In September 2019, a ship of the Turkish Coast Guard came to Odessa with an unofficial visit. And it was the first visit of Turkish maritime border guards of Turkey to Ukraine since the occupation of the Crimea.

The program of “Hryhorii Kuropiatnykov” visit to the Turkish counterparts includes an exchange of experience and long-term planning for the development of cooperation. “Partners at sea” will exchange peculiarities of using navigation equipment, practice joint maneuvering at sea, discuss peculiarities of search and rescue operations.