The Third Activation was between 03-31 August 2003 with Bulgaria in command.

The Third Activation was conducted in accordance with the decisions and guidance of the BSNC as port visits to each party for 3 days and serialized sea training in five periods of 2 days at sea.

Change of Command Ceremony (COCC) was conducted in Burgas on 06 August 2003 and the BLACKSEAFOR Command transferred from Ukraine to Bulgaria.

The sea training serials included exercises covering the following themes: FORMEX of HA convoy, LEAD THROUGH (MCM exercises), Anti-surface Warfare Exercises (ASUEX), Antisubmarine Warfare Exercises (ASWEX), Anti-air Warfare Exercises (AAWEX), Rescuing man over board, Rendering assistance to a ship in distress, Towing a disable ship (TOWEX), Replenishment at Sea (RAS), Port security and Anchorage Protection, and Civil-Military Cooperation through establishing CIMIC. All exercise serials will be planned and carried out in accordance with EXTAC 1000 Series.

The focus of the 2003 activation was the examination of the BLACKSEAFOR Humanitarian Assistance Operations Sub-concept (BSN-05) as it was directed by the BSNC. Nevertheless, the scope of the training included further exercising of the adopted BSN Sub-concepts in order to improve the level of training and interoperability of the force.

The Third Activation of BLACKSEAFOR lasted for 23 days, of which 10 days was scheduled training at sea and 19 days in port.

THIRD ACTIVATION (03-31 AUGUST 2003)

Commanding Navy	:	Bulgarian Navy
OPBLACKSEAFOR	:	Radm (Lh) Plamen MANUSHEV (Bulgaria)
COMBLACKSEAFOR	:	Radm (Lh) George GEROGIEV (Bulgaria)
Participating Units	:

Nation	Ship	Type
Bulgaria	BGS SHKVAL	Corvette
Georgia	GEO TBILISI	Fast Patrol Boat
Romania	ROS ADM. H.MACELARIU	Frigate
Russian Federation	RFS PYTLIVIY	Frigate
Turkey	TCG YAVUZ	Frigate
Ukraine	UPS LIVITZA	Corvette