Five naval vessels in Corfu Port
CORFU. The vessels are taking part in the multinational exercise ADRION-2024, which is currently in progress.
On Sunday, June 16, Corfu Port resembled a naval base, with a total of five naval vessels, both Greek and foreign, present at the same time.
The reason was the commencement of the multinational naval exercise ADRION-2024, which this year is being conducted in the broader sea area around Corfu from June 16 to 20. Thus, the island's port was chosen as the main base for the participating forces. These include ships and personnel from Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Albania, while Slovenia and Montenegro are participating with personnel only.
Foreign vessels
The first ship to arrive in Corfu (on Saturday, June 15) was the Italian ship P493 Comandante Foscari, a Comandanti-class vessel. It is a modern offshore patrol vessel, domestically built, with a length of 89 metres and a displacement of 1,520 tons. It entered service in 2004 and is armed with one main 76mm gun and two secondary 25mm guns. It has the capability to accommodate a helicopter, with a helipad and hangar.
From Croatia there is the coastal patrol vessel OOB-31 Omiš, which was the last to arrive on the island. It was built in Croatia in 2018 and is considered a multi-role ship. It has a length of about 43 metres and a displacement of 240 tons. Its armament consists of a 30mm gun on a Turkish-made remote-controlled turret, as well as two heavy machine guns.
From Albanian there is the coastal patrol vessel P134 Butrint, a Damen Stan-4207 type, with a length of 42.8 metres and a displacement of 239 tons. It is of Dutch design and construction and was delivered to the Coast Guard of the neighbouring country in 2013.
Greek vessels
As the host country for this year, Greece is participating in the ADRION-2024 exercise with two Navy ships, which also arrived in Corfu on Sunday.
The first of these is the missile boat P69 Lieutenant Krystallidis, the third of a total of seven Super Vita-class missile boats of British design, built at the Elefsis Shipyards. It joined the Fleet in 2006 and is armed with 8 Exocet surface-to-surface guided missiles, one main 76mm gun, two secondary 30mm guns, two machine guns, and a RAM anti-missile/anti-aircraft system with 21 missiles for self-defence. It has a length of 62 metres and a full displacement of 670 tons, while its four diesel engines allow it to reach a maximum speed of 35 knots.
The other Greek ship that arrived in Corfu for the exercise is the general support ship A374 Prometheus. It is the largest ship in the Fleet, with a length of 146.6 metres and a full load displacement of 13,400 tons. It was also built in Elefsis based on Italian designs and was delivered to the Navy in 2003. It can refuel up to three warships simultaneously at sea and can also supply them with ammunition, spare parts, lubricants, and potable water.
For self-protection, it is equipped with a Phalanx anti-missile system, 4 20mm guns, and several machine guns. It also has a helipad and a helicopter hangar. Recently, it was decided to equip it with additional modern telecommunications equipment to enable it to function as a command ship. It also visited Corfu Port in 2021.
The exercise
The purpose of the ADRION LIVEX-CAX exercise is to enhance the level of interoperability and cooperation among the participants through joint training in naval techniques and tactics for naval operations, with an emphasis on addressing security challenges in the wider Adriatic and Ionian Seas region.
It constitutes the main activity of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION) and has been conducted annually since 2004, with the initial participation of Greece and Italy as founding states ('lead nations'), and later, all member states (Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and Slovenia). The Initiative was decided with the 'Ancona Declaration' in 2000 and was activated one year later.
GERASIMOS MARTINIS
Photos: Gerasimos Martinis
