On Thursday, March 30, Rear Admiral Luca Pasquale Esposito, commander of the Fourth Naval Division based in Augusta, Sicily, formally took over from Rear Admiral Stefano Costantino, commander of the Third Naval Division based in Brindisi as tactical commander at sea of Operation “Mediterraneo Sicuro” (Safe Mediterranean). The handover ceremony was held aboard Nave San Marco, moored in Brindisi harbour, in the presence of Rear Admiral Aurelio De Carolis, Commander in Chief of the Naval Squadron.

In 28 days of activities (March 3 to 30), with Rear Admiral Costantino in command, the maritime unit-composed of several assets including submarines and aircraft and led by San Marco flagship - carried out maritime control and surveillance activities, protecting national fishing and merchant vessels, taking care of the security of offshore and underwater infrastructure, and countering illicit activities on the high seas, in an area that extends far beyond the waters west of Sardinia to the Mediterranean approaches of the Middle East.

This is a continuous and intensive team effort that also includes planning and conducting training activities with the navies of Allied and partner countries, all connected by their common interest in the security and stability in the region. Thus Rear Admiral Costantino in his farewell speech "The 1,222 military personnel of the crews of ships, submarines, aircraft and specialized components who took turns in this fifth rotation of command have, in addition to supporting international cooperation, daily operated for surveillance, vigilance and deterrence, demonstrating their timely readiness to intervene in various situations, with a proactive and multidisciplinary approach”.

Over this period, noteworthy is the interaction of San Marco ship and Doria ship in exercise Phibex-23-1 with the Spanish Expeditionary Strike Group, led by the Iberian Navy's flagship Juan Carlos I, and with Carrier Strike Group 10 of the U.S. aircraft carrier Bush.

This commitment was also emphasized by Admiral De Carolis: "The Navy is engaged on a daily basis with an average effort that includes operational and training activities and has recently exceeded 20 ships per day, with aircraft and a total of more than 2,000 men and women deployed. I attended the annual conference of Operational Commanders of NATO Navies and there I could see the extent to which our strong commitment is recognized and appreciated."
Turning then to Admiral Costantino and his staff, he wanted to emphasize that: "in the, albeit short, period of his command he has made a significant contribution to Operation Mediterraneo Sicuro (Safe Mediterranean), with a command style marked by maximum effectiveness and extraordinary proactivity."
The place chosen for the ceremony was also significant, the Brindisi naval base, home of the Third Naval Division, a choice that confirms the Navy's strong ties with the city and local institutions, under the sign of continuity and cooperation.