Aberdeen’s new Lord Provost, Barney Crockett, yesterday greeted the Italian crew of a NATO vessel on a temporary visit to the Granite City.
He was joined by the Italian Hon Consul, General Robert Foietta, and the Royal Navy’s Lieutenant Matthew O Brian to greet Commander Ettore Ronco, the commanding officer of the ITS Alliance.
The NATO ship, which is believed to be the first Italian Navy vessel to dock in Aberdeen, had a brief one-night stopover before continuing its mission in the north Atlantic this morning.
Mr Crockett said that receiving the crew was a “tremendous honour” and added: “I think this is the first visit by an Italian Navy vessel to the city and I think that shows the increasing importance economically of the northern seas to the world economy.
“Military vessels are also resurgent in our northern waters both for the increasing economic importance and the issue of the Russian Navy increasing its presence in the area.
“We have always been a city with a foot in the seabed and Aberdeen is very well placed to play an increasing specialist role in these changes.”
