The 19th iteration of the US and Ukraine co-hosted multinational maritime exercise Sea Breeze 2019 (SB19) has concluded in the Black Sea.

Sea Breeze is an annual exercise designed to increase interoperability among participating countries to boost security and stability in the region.

The two-week exercise focused on a range of security and stability scenarios in land, sea, and air.

Completion of SB19 was marked by a closing ceremony in Odesa, Ukraine.

US Navy Task Force 65 commodore and SB19 US exercise director captain Matthew Lehman said: “Today exercise Sea Breeze 2019 is over, but the work for exercise Sea Breeze 2020 starts tomorrow.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

More than 3,000 personnel and 32 vessels took part in the Sea Breeze exercise.

The training drills included maritime interdiction operations, air defence, special forces training, anti-submarine warfare, damage control tactics, search and rescue and amphibious warfare.

Other components of the exercise included dive training and air component training.

US 6th Fleet commander vice-admiral Lisa Franchetti said: “It’s a pleasure for members of the US Navy to have the opportunity to work alongside Ukrainian sailors and friends from other nations.”

Towards the closing stages of the exercise, the participating ships took part in a final photo exercise.

The 19-nation exercise also involved Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, and the UK.

US assets that participated in SB19 included the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64), the expeditionary fast-transport ship USNS Yuma (T-EPF 8) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.