On Tuesday 10 September 2019, at the Scali quay of the Naval Base of La Spezia, in the presence of the commander in chief of the naval squad admiral Donato Marzano, the alternation ceremony in the command of the 1st naval division was held jointly between Rear Admiral Angelo Virdis , transferor, and Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto, accepting, and in command of the Mine and Hydrographic Countermeasures Forces between Rear Admiral Davide Berna, transferor, and Rear Admiral Silvio Vratogna, accepting.
Since their establishment in the 2017, the admirals Virdis and Berna have fulfilled the tasks and the commitments entrusted to them, taking care of the training of their naval units and facing multiple operational activities, first of all as tactical commanders of the operation Safe Sea.
"Together we have found the way to carry out the many missions that have been entrusted to us, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea" Admiral Virdis said, referring to his crews. Rear Admiral Bern emphasized instead the importance and the peculiarity of the command of Mine and Hydrographic Countermeasures Forces, remembering in particular the ability to conduct campaigns up to the Arctic circle, to locate and remove war residues and finally to carry out hydro-oceanographic surveys for guarantee the updating of the cartography.
Rear Admiral Turchetto takes over as Commanding Admiral of the 1st Naval Division after having held the position of Force Commander of EUNAVFORMED - Operation SOPHIA while Rear Admiral Vratogna assumes command of the Mine and Hydrographic Countermeasures Forces after the position of Deputy Head of Department of the 3rd Department Planning and Maritime Policy at the General Staff of the Navy.
At the end of the ceremony, the words of the commander-in-chief of the naval squad, Admiral Marzano who, after a brief greeting to the intervening authorities, guests and industry representatives, addressed his words of thanks for the concrete and exciting work carried out for maritime safety, with a thought for the families of the crews.
The admiral acknowledged that "The families of the men and women of the Navy represent the true engine and support to the personnel of the armed force who daily strives away from their affections" and concluded his speech by wishing the admirals Turchetto and Vratogna wind in their sails, respectively in command of the 1 ^ naval division and of the Mine and Hydrographic Countermeasures Forces.
