A Polish commander, a Polish vessel, and a key role when it comes to security in the Baltic Sea. For several months now, Polish sailors have been directing the activities of a NATO task group. For nearly a week, we had the opportunity to observe their work up close.

“New Horizon, New Horizon, New Horizon. This is the NATO warship 511. Are you aware that NATO is conducting operations in the Baltic Sea to ensure freedom of navigation and the security of underwater infrastructure? We will ask a few questions. Thank you for your cooperation. Over,” says the officer on the watch (OOW), leaning back in his chair. After a moment of silence, he asks the captain of the contacted vessel about the port of departure, destination, and cargo. It is late evening as we cross the Bay of Mecklenburg. The ORP ‘Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki’ ship has just begun its patrol as part of Operation Baltic Sentry. This is a key element of a mission we were able to follow very closely for a week.

Strip by Strip

The ORP ‘Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki’ ship is undoubtedly one of the most important vessels in Europe today. Since January 2026, it has served as the flagship of SNMCMG1 (Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1), one of NATO’s four permanent naval groups. It is aboard this vessel – nicknamed ‘X’ by the crew – that the multinational staff is based, commanded by Polish officer, Cdr Kacper Sterne. He commands minehunters from several countries. “Our task is to patrol the most important shipping routes in the northern part of the continent and to search for and neutralize dangerous remnants of past wars – old mines, torpedoes, and air bombs,” explains Cdr Kacper Sterne. At the same time, the group is participating in Operation Baltic Sentry, activated by NATO over a year ago after a series of incidents involving damage to underwater cables and pipelines. “We place great emphasis on monitoring critical infrastructure and maritime traffic in the Baltic. We demonstrate our presence and readiness to respond to any acts of sabotage,” the officer adds.

SNMCMG1 also uses every opportunity to train, ensuring the crews maintain their highest level of proficiency. One example is participation in the Baltic MCM (Mine Countermeasure Baltic), exercises organized every six months by the German Navy. We go to Kiel to watch them.

We board the ‘Czernicki’ ship on a Sunday evening. The harbor is filled with warships. The decks are still calm, but everything will change within hours. By Monday morning, the port fills with life. Ships depart one by one towards the Baltic Sea. ‘Czernicki’ is among the last ones leaving, but before reaching the Bay of Mecklenburg, it catches up with several minehunters, including HNLMS Schiedam from the Netherlands, German FGS Fulda and FGS Datteln. The first two are permanent members of the group; the third joined for the duration of the exercise. The task unit also includes two surface drones, SeeHund.

The Baltic MCM Exercise involved 16 ships from seven countries, divided into three task groups. “The training areas have largely been cleared of wartime remnants. However, organizers have deployed exercise mines with active sensors that can record our mistakes. During operations, we may receive information that we have ‘lost’ a ship,” explains Cdr Kacper Sterne.

The first phase focuses on coordination – testing communications and maneuvering in formation. Soon, however, crews begin the main task: searching for mines. This is a painstaking process. Each specialized vessel is assigned an area and scans the seabed strip by strip. We see this firsthand during a visit to HNLMS Schiedam, which we reach on a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) launched from ‘Czernicki.’ “We use the ship’s sonar and an autonomous underwater vehicle, Remus, to scan the seabed,” explains Hidde, the mine warfare officer. The unmanned vehicle resembles the Gavia systems used by Polish minehunters. Once deployed, it follows a pre-programmed route, collecting data via sonar and camera. Operators analyze the data, marking so-called ‘contacts’ – objects that may be mines. “These are then identified either by divers or by a remotely operated vehicle, SeaFox I,” Hidde adds. If a contact turns out to be a mine, it can either be detonated or marked as a navigational hazard. The decision depends on factors such as location and environmental conditions.

Shortly after our conversation, the Dutch deploy SeaFox to inspect one of the contacts. In the combat information center, we watch the video feed: an illuminated, rounded shape appears on the screen. Covered in marine growth and partially buried in silt, it turns out not to be a mine, but a rock.

The next day, we observe divers operating from ‘Czernicki.’ The Polish contingent includes a diving team that supports minehunter crews. “We have a decompression chamber, so we’re ready to assist divers in case of an accident or emergency surfacing,” explains Marcin, the team leader.

Although minehunters have their own chambers, SNMCMG1 must maintain backup capability. Polish divers also conduct underwater identification of detected objects. Once, after a signal from Schiedam, they dive to a depth of about 20 meters – only to discover that the object is an old anchor.

Russian Shadow

Minehunting operations take place under specific conditions. “According to the scenario, we operate in an area particularly vulnerable to asymmetric threats. Crews must be prepared to repel attacks from air and sea, especially involving drones,” explains Cdr Kacper Sterne. Alarm signals sound almost daily – sometimes several times a day.

In one instance, a low-flying aircraft approaches the group. On the ‘Czernicki’ ship, alarms ring out and the ship is sprayed with water to reduce its thermal signature, making detection more difficult. Meanwhile, crew members man heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft weapons. The aircraft circles the ships several times before disappearing. “Today, air defense was provided by a nearby German frigate. Nevertheless, a ship like ours must follow its own procedures,” says LtCdr Mariusz Kujawa, commanding officer of the ORP ‘Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki’ ship. Other scenarios include simulated attacks by fast boats and drones.

The first week of exercises brought measurable results. “Our task group detected two exercise mines and… an old German torpedo from World War II,” says Cdr Kacper Sterne. Equally important was the message sent by Operation Baltic Sentry: NATO maintains a constant presence in the Baltic Sea – alert and ready to act. “There is no room for anonymity. We see and respond.” This is especially important now, as the Baltic has become a geopolitical hotspot following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russian ships accompany us almost constantly,” admits LtCdr Thomas Støkket, Chief of Staff of SNMCMG1. Although their crews behave professionally, tensions remain high. Russia continues efforts to bypass Western sanctions using a so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers. According to intelligence data, Russia retains the capability for sabotage.

The Baltic Sea is crucial for Europe’s economy. Poland is a good example: in 2025 alone, Polish ports handled 141 million tons of cargo, including strategic resources such as oil and liquefied gas. Poland relies on the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, offshore platforms, telecommunications cables, and is developing offshore wind farms. Any disruption to this infrastructure or maritime traffic would severely impact the region. That is why missions like those carried out by SNMCMG1 are so important – and why the leading role once again played by Polish sailors is so significant.