In accordance with Decision 117/MON of the Minister of National Defence of 13 June 2017, Centre for Maritime Operations – Command of the Marine Component (COM - DKM) celebrates its vacation today. Over the next 2 years, this unit will become the operational commander of the POLMARFOR naval forces and will take over the function of NATO CTF Baltic regional command.
On the occasion of the celebration of the unit on April 2, a collection of staff and staff of the Ministry of Defence took place. During the ceremony, the decree, decision and orders were read about the distinctions granted by the president of Poland, the Minister of National Defence and the Commander of COM – DKM, including Medals for Long Service, Medal for Merit for the Defence of the Country and Memorial Badges of individuals. The awards were presented by Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski. During the fundraiser, an officer was besides sent off to service at the Marine Component Command.
Tasks and mission
COM - DKM is simply a tactical level unit designed to command the separated forces of the Navy, the Land Forces and the Air Force conducting maritime activities in times of peace, crisis and war.
COM – DKM is in command of the dedicated forces of the Ministry of abroad Affairs at sea, in air and on land at the time of their tasks, as well as coordinating the day-to-day activities of the forces subordinate to the General Command of the RFA and the Operations Command of the RFA carrying out tasks in the work region of the Commander of COM - DKM. The Centre besides proves the divisional forces of the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces as part of the integrated strategy of reconnaissance of the Armed Forces and participating in rescue actions in the Polish SAR responsibilities region and cooperates in this area with the Marine Search and Rescue Service. It manages planning, organisational and coordination activities related to cooperation and advice for maritime navigation. Its task is to monitor the readiness of the Naval forces under the General Commander of the RSZ, assigned to permanent and ad hoc teams and NATO forces, to supervise the Naval services as regards their readiness to launch and accomplish a crisis management system, as well as to monitor the readiness of the subdivisions and troops of the Naval forces designated to participate in the prevention or eradication of natural disasters. COM - DKMM is besides liable for coordinating the Detection strategy Contaminants to all elements of this strategy located in the work region and data collection and analysis, forecasting and distribution of forecasts and hydro-metheoreological warnings for marine and allied forces units.
The officers and officers of the Centre are besides part of the Commands and Staff erstwhile planning and conducting national and global exercises and allied operations. The Centre cooperates with the Marine Border defender Branch in the field of protection and defence of the maritime border of the state. Specialists of the Marine Component Command participate in peace, stabilisation and training missions conducted by the Armed Forces of Poland. So far these have been missions: UNDOF (Syria), ISAF (Afghanistan), UNIFIL (Lebanon), MNF (Iraq), EUFOR (Bosnia and Herzegovina), KFOR (Kosovo), EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA and EUNAVOR MED IRINI (Italy), PKW Czernicki (Mediterranean and Black Sea) and PKW Condor (Mediterranean Sea).
Bay Operation
In consequence to emerging incidents and the threat of continued operation of maritime critical infrastructure, The Navy in 2022 launched Operation Bay, which is commanded by COM-DKM. Its aim is to monitor shipping, identify threats and observe the waters where the essential facilities and installations for the economy and energy safety are located. In order to increase the effectiveness of the activities carried out, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland cooperate in this area with the Marine Border defender Division, maritime administration and gas pipeline operators, underwater power cables and telecommunications. Situational awareness is being built 24 hours a day in close cooperation with allied countries, which increases efficiency and increases maritime safety.
From COM-DKM to CTF Baltic
In 2024, after a gathering of the defence ministers of the North Atlantic Alliance states held in June in Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister – National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak – Kamysz announced the rotational command of NATO operations by Poland, Germany and Sweden in the Baltic region. In the same year, in October, a group of Navy officers and sub-commissioners began to service in the recently formed Regional Commander Task Force Baltic (CTF Baltic) alliance in Rostock, where Deputy Admiral Piotr Nieć is simply a deputy commander. It is operationally subject to the Joint NATO Maritime Force Command in Northwood, United Kingdom, and its task is to command allied exercises and operations in the Baltic Sea, including activities to strengthen the safety of shipping and maritime critical infrastructure of the Baltic Sentry. In the mediate of this year, the position of CTF Baltic Chief of Staff will be taken by an officer of the Polish Navy.
In the Centre for Maritime Operations – Command of the Marine Component, intensive preparations are underway for the formation of POLMARFOR – a fresh unit that will make opportunities to take over in 2028 the function of NATO's regional naval forces in the Baltic by Poland. office of the Marine Component takes part in many national and abroad courses and specialist trainings, as well as in national and global exercises. Preparations are besides underway for the start of a certification process to confirm the ability to take command of allied operations in the region.
History
The Centre for Maritime Operations was established on 1 July 2002 due to the request to adapt the structures of the command strategy of the Polish Armed Forces to NATO standards and requirements. A fresh unit that was expected to be in charge of naval forces during the crisis and war was created by the merger of the existing Naval Command Post enhanced by separate staff and logistics structures. During the 2 years of operation, the COM tasks were expanded and amended, resulting in a more thorough restructuring which took place in July 2004. July 2004 is besides dated to the accomplishment of the unit's operational readiness, which is to take full command of the Navy forces. For the next 9 years, the Centre for Marine Operations has functioned in structures composed of command, functional units of planning operations and current activities and staff. Another restructuring of the unit was carried out on 1 July 2013 by expanding its structures with fresh interior cells, including, inter alia, the exploratory branch. Then the name of the unit changed to the Centre for Marine Operations - Marine Component Command. In 2014, the improvement of the command and command strategy of the Polish Armed Forces entered into force, resulting in the formation of the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces and the Operations Command of the Polish Armed Forces in place of the erstwhile Command of the Armed Forces. As a consequence of this reform, the COM - DKM has besides been reshaped. The subjection of the individual has besides changed. As of 1 January 2014, the Centre for Marine Operations – Marine Component Command is straight subordinate to the Operation Commander of the Armed Forces Types.
Text: StartCzesław Cichy/ COM-DKMEndFragment
