NATO Maritime Command

NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) is the central command of all NATO maritime forces and the Commander MARCOM is the prime maritime advisor to the Alliance. Like its land and air counterparts (LANDCOM & AIRCOM), MARCOM answers directly to NATOs Allied Command Operations (ACO) which is located in Mons, Belgium. Located in Northwood, outside London, United Kingdom, it is composed of a multinational headquarters manned by 300 officers, petty officers and civilians from most NATO countries. MARCOM includes three subordinate commands co-located in Northwood for coordination on specific areas of maritime engagement and Allied forces when assigned to NATO. These commands are as follows: Submarines NATO, which directs submarines under NATO operational control; Maritime Air NATO, which directs the activities of Maritime Patrol Aircraft under NATO operational control; and the NATO Shipping Centre, which is a direct liaison with the wider commercial shipping community. MARCOM also leads four ...