Page 45: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2020)

NAVIES & COVID-19

Fit for the COVID Fight

Sailors stand in ranks before manning the rails of Nimitz- class nuclear aircraft carrier

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

Photos: U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Of- ? cer 3rd Class Christian Huntington meaningful exercise with maximum training value but mini- contact between ships, hand washing, disinfecting of supplies mum risk to the force, allies and partners, and the people of transferred, routine ship dis-infecting and, when in port for

Hawaii. “In these challenging times, it is more important than resupply, crews are not allowed to leave their ships. Our ships ever that our maritime forces work together to protect vital are essentially self-quarantined in place as units,” the state- shipping lanes and ensure freedom of navigation through in- ment read.

ternational waters,” said Commander, U.S. Paci? c Fleet Adm. “It is vital that we are able to conduct our operations and

John Aquilino. “And we will operate safely, using prudent tasks regardless of the threat from COVID-19. Reducing the mitigation measures.” risk of getting the virus on board our ships in the task group

As the U.S. Navy continues to limit the spread of COV- is therefore one of my top priorities”, said Commodore Yn-

ID-19, RIMPAC 2020 is not scheduled to include social events gve Skoglund of the Royal Norwegian Navy, Commander of ashore. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam will be accessible for Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1), and who led logistics support, with a minimal footprint of staff ashore for the ships participating in the Dynamic Mongoose exercise. command and control, logistics, and other support functions. Ships from Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group

According to a NATO statement from Allied Maritime Two (SNMCMG2) that were participating in the Dynamic

Command regarding the recent Dynamic Mongoose multi- Manta ASW exercise in the Mediterranean started implement- national ASW exercise, just one sailor with COVID-19 could ing protective measures starting as early as Feb 27, including mean the entire ship becomes infected. “All our missions have a wet chloramine carpet at the ? agship entrance, antibacterial robust procedures in place to protect our people and prevent gel cans, masks and gloves.

the spread of the virus. The particular action of each ship is Around 30 ships from 19 NATO Allied and partner nations dictated by the ship’s national policies. In general, it’s limiting participated in the annual BALTOPS maritime exercise in the www.marinelink.com 45

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