The establishment of the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre was granted by the NATO Defence Ministers on June 12th 2003, and the first staff members were posted to the Centre's Project Office on November 2005.

The Memorandum of Understanding regarding the relationship between NATO (the Strategic Commanders) and the Centre was signed by the Greek Chief of Defense, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and Supreme Allied Commander Europe in the margins of the NATO Military Committee during the Chiefs of Defence Session in Brussels on November 15th, 2005.

In accordance with MCM-250-03, the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre's mission is "To conduct the combined training necessary for NATO forces and Partners to better execute surface, sub-surface, aerial surveillance, and special operations activities in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations."

The Centre is located in the northern area of Souda Naval Base, near the city of Chania, at the north-west of Crete, Greece. Crete and particularly the city of Chania, is one of the main tourist destinations. Chania is a picturesque, medieval city about 20Km west of Souda bay, with a population rising up to 100,000. The tourist period in Crete starts in April and lasts up to the end of October. Souda is located on the western part of the island and is one of the largest and most important natural ports of eastern Mediterranean.

Questions can be addressed to the Allied Command Transformation Point of Contact:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +1 757 747 3183,

or, alternatively, the International Staff Political Affairs and Security Policy Division Point of Contact:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +32 2 707 1966.