January 9, a Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) command and staff changeover ceremony took place aboard the LNS Jotvingis (N42) command and support ship. Lieutenant Commander Rimantas Preimantas took over the duties from outgoing BALTRON Commander Lieutenant Commander Denis Jelcovs (Latvian Navy).
“Multinational cooperation spanning not just the Baltic states but also other NATO Allies in the Baltic region is among the top priorities in these uncertain times,” noted the new BALTRON Commander Lieutenant Commander Rimantas Preimantas.
Established in 1998, BALTRON currently comprises Lithuanian and Latvian Navy ships LVNS Varonis (A-90) command and support ship, LNS Skalvis (M53) MCM ship, and the multinational staff manned by both countries.
BALTRON is a rapid response unit of the Baltic Navies that is mainly tasked with neutralization of unexploded World War I and World War II mines and ammunition on the Baltic seafloor. The unit also serves as a platform for training ahead of commissioning to NATO units and prepares for training and leading a MCM Group in international exercises Baltic MCMEX, BALTOPS 26, Aurora 26, Open Spirit 26 and SQEX (BALTRON training exercise) in the Baltic Sea region.
