The Greek Navy’s Crete Naval Base at Souda received a new commanding officer yesterday, 13th March, when the outgoing commander Nektarios Lyberakis passed on the baton of his responsibilities to Commodore Vasileios Tsoukas. The handing-over ceremony took place yesterday morning on the parade ground of the Naval Base in the presence of military and civil personnel, local government representatives and members of the public.

In his final address, the outgoing commander Rear Admiral Nektarios Lyberakis recalled the start of his naval career 39 years ago at Souda, which was also where he was ending it. It was, he said a journey “on stormy seas, but also in sheltered bays and harbours.” Recalling the most significant “ports of call” in his naval life, he singled out his command of four different ships, the torpedo boats Kyknos and Lailaps, the frigate Themistocles, and 8 years on the missile boat Starakis, followed by the command of the fast boats of the Naval Βase and the 1st Missile Boat Squadron for 5 years.

Thanking the personnel of the Naval Base, he said: “For the past 24 months I was at your side, in the easy and the difficult moments in carrying out the operation and modernisation of the Naval Base to the highest level. You responded to the call and the challenges which were the most significant and the most demanding of recent years, overcoming the obstacles which arose in your path.”

In his first address, the new commander, Commodore Vasileios Tsoukas told the Base’s personnel: “I am happy to be working with you and I look forward to your unstinting help, participation and support in carrying out the aims of our mission. I urge you to continue the work of supporting the ships of our Navy which come to the Base as well as the allied units which dock here. With team spirit, proper planning, organisation and discipline we will develop even further the Naval Base’s capacities, in terms of shipping support but also the development and modernisation of the existing infrastructure.”

Also present at the ceremony was Rear Admiral Panagiotis Dimitroglou, Director of the Naval Logistic Support Command (of which the Souda Naval Base is a subordinate service), who expressed his complete satisfaction at the command of Nektarios Lyberakis and wished the new commander “wholeheartedly, good luck in his new duties and every success in his work”.
(Haniotika Nea, 14/03/24)