The United Kingdom has handed over command of a NATO mine countermeasures (MCM) force at a ceremony in Denmark.

MCMFORNORTH celebrated its 27th change of command as Cdr Adrian Cassar RN passed on the baton to Cdr s.g. Flagstad of the Royal Danish Navy at the port of Frederikshavn.

Cdr Cassar thus completed a 12-month assignment as Commander MCMFORNORTH, during which time two Polish ships, ORP Mewa and ORP Czajka, were integrated into the Force.

Cdr Cassar will now ‘rejoin’ the Royal Navy.

NATO navies operating under the NAVNORTH command – Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and the UK – provide a permanent contribution to the Force, while command is rotated annually between the participants.

The host nation designates a vessel to assume command as the flagship, and in the case of the UK this was patrol ship HMS Dumbarton Castle.

She is now relieved of the task by Danish ship HDMS Lossen, and Sandown-class minehunter HMS Inverness is the UK’s contribution for the remainder of this year.

Other ships currently in the Force include BNS Astor (Belgium), HNLMS Middleburg (Netherlands), HNOMS Oksøy (Norway) and FGS Badvensen (Germany).

Among the VIPs attending were Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, Commander-in-Chief Fleet, though he also has the responsibilities of Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and Commander Allied Naval Forces North.

Hosting the occasion was rear Admiral Kurt Birger Jensen, Admiral Danish Fleet, and the guest of honour – Gen Hans Jesper Helsø, Danish Chief of Defence – addressed those gathered.