TIRANA, Feb. 24, 2023 – Four NATO ships — two Turkish, one Italian and one Dutch — have concluded a mine-sweeping exercise off the Durres coastline, using the latest military technology to scan the area, which is scheduled to receive increased maritime traffic soon.
The ships focused on the waters of Porto Romano, among other places, using high-tech military equipment and divers in two points that were considered risky.
The area was found to be clean. The findings will be given to Albanian authorities, local media reported
There is a practical purpose for the exercise as Porto Romano, where currently there is an oil and gas terminal, is also set to be the site of Albania’s new Durres Commercial Port, with the old one set to be redeveloped for passenger and marina boats only.
Albania has been a NATO member since 2009, and allied ships from different countries are a regular presence off the coastline and in Albanian ports.
