After exercising with SNMG1 ships, German Navy’s replenishment tanker ‘Berlin’ has called in Nuuk, Greenland for the first time participating in securing maritime lanes between Greenland and Northern Europe, also known as the GIUK area.
German Bundeswehr press release
The task force supply ship ‘Berlin’ has docked in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The German ship had previously crossed the Arctic Circle and supplied combat ships with fuel. But what is the navy doing in the North Atlantic ?
As the cold wind blows spray across the upper deck, the grey of the North Atlantic blends with the cloudy sky on the horizon. Then the silhouette of a warship becomes increasingly clear: the frigate Hamburg. A short time later, despite the wind and waves, it sails less than 50 metres parallel to the Berlin and fills its fuel tanks via the pipes of the navy’s largest supply ship. This maritime supply manoeuvre is known in naval parlance as RAS: Replenishment at sea. On both ships, the deck crews and the crews on the bridges ensure that everything runs safely despite the adverse weather conditions.
The two German naval vessels were west of Iceland during their supply manoeuvre. The frigate Hamburg then rejoined Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, while the Berlin set course for Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. “As a supply ship, we are a resource that nearby units can make use of. Our mission is to keep combat ships at sea for as long as possible, whether they are German or from other partner nations.” emphasises the commander of the Berlin, Captain Karsten Uwe Schlüter.
The GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom) gap – a strategically important sea area
Originally departing from Wilhelmshaven on August 3rd, 2025, the task force supply ship has already demonstrated its presence in a strategically important area with its voyage along the so-called GIUK . “By supplying German and allied units, we have also enabled other warships to remain at sea for a longer period of time, the security of which is crucial for keeping the sea lanes between North America and Europe open,” explains Commander Schlüter.
In an emergency, the sea route across the Atlantic is the only way to transport large numbers of troops and goods from North America to Europe. Air transport cannot provide the necessary capacity in this case. This requires cargo ships to transport soldiers and their equipment to the major ports of Europe so that they can then march through Germany to NATO’s eastern flank. The goal: to deter Russia from a possible attack or, in the event of defence, to repel aggression and secure Europe’s sovereignty.
For Russia, the GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom) gap offers the only opportunity to bring its own naval units from the Northern Fleet into the Atlantic in order to disrupt NATO’s supply lines. Russian submarines in particular pose the greatest threat here, which is why surveillance of the GIUK gap is essential. As part of the northern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), this sea area is therefore a focal point in the alliance’s defence plans, alongside the Baltic Sea.
‘Berlin’ implements German Arctic policy
For a long time, cooperation between the neighbouring countries was the main focus in the Arctic, regardless of rivalries in other regions of the world. However, this is increasingly being called into question by Russia, which has been building up its military presence and infrastructure in the region in recent years. In addition, the melting ice is opening up new opportunities to exploit resources and develop alternative sea routes, which is also attracting China’s attention.
The German government has responded to this by acknowledging these new security challenges in its ‘Guidelines for German Arctic Policy’ (‘Leitlinien deutscher Arktispolitik’). With its presence in the Arctic Circle, known as Atlantic Bear, the combat support ship Berlin is following these strategic guidelines. “We are showing our allies that we are able to support them in this challenging sea area and that we can fly the flag here in the Arctic Circle,” says Commander Schlüter. The Berlin‘s voyage does not end in the capital of Greenland. The ship will then continue on to North America to take part in the multinational manoeuvres Nanook-Tuugaalik and Unitas.
Training and operational readiness
In addition to sharp RAS manoeuvres and navigating the unpredictability of the North Atlantic, the crew of the Berlin keeps itself ready for action through regular exercises. Whether it’s man overboard, fire on board, water ingress or the emergency landing of the on-board helicopter on the flight deck: everything has to be practiced again and again so that the procedures are perfect in an emergency. The ship’s weapons team also gets to practice using machine guns to defend against speedboats.
“After the phase in the shipyard and the accompanying personnel changes, we use the free time to train new crew members and give experienced comrades the opportunity to practice,” explains Schlüter. Atlantic Bear is also used to give junior naval officers their first insights into seafaring.
On August 16, 2025, the task force supply ship entered the port of Nuuk. From the perspective of the commander of the Berlin, this first part of Atlantic Bear went according to plan. “The Berlin coped very well with the challenges of the Arctic Circle region. This has brought the crew closer together and laid a good foundation for future projects,” said Schlüter. After a short stay in port, the German combat support ship will set course for Canada, where the Nanook-Tuugaalik exercise awaits the crew.
