As sub-lieutenant and later lieutenant he served onboard several minesweepers in different positions until 1993 when he attended the Norwegian Mine Warfare Staff officers’ course and was granted commanding officer qualification. In 1994 he served onboard frigate HNOMS NARVIK and participated in embargo operations in the Adriatic with STANAVFORLANT.

In 1995 he was appointed commanding officer of his first ship, the minesweeper HNOMS ALTA, the last wooden minesweeper (SAUDA class) to be in service in the Norwegian Navy. In 1996 he assumed command of the first new Norwegian minesweeper, once again HNOMS Alta (ALTA class). Between 1996 and 1998 he served as commanding officer on various Mine Hunters/Sweepers of OKSOY and ALTA-class, and was assigned as staff officer mine warfare, at HQ NORTH in Stavanger, Norway for 6 months.

In 1998 he returned to the Norwegian Naval Academy (advanced level) and graduated in 2000. He returned to the Mine Counter Measures squadron as commanding officer of mine hunter HNOMS MALOY. During his many years serving on Mine Counter Measures Vessels, he spent a total of two and a half years with STANAVFORCHAN/MCMFORNORTH.

In 2002 he was promoted to commander and assigned as staff officer mine warfare with the Norwegian Task Group staff (NorTG) until 2006 when he was promoted Commander S.G. and given the task to establish and run Norwegian Naval Mine Warfare Training Centre. In 2007 he attended Norwegian Defence Staff College and returned to the Mine Warfare Training Centre where he served as commanding officer. He also commanded the Norwegian Mine Counter Measures Squadron a second time between 2008 and 2009.

In 2009, he was assigned as senior staff officer at the Norwegian Mine Counter Measures Service Staff

Erik Hansen and Sameer recently married and live in Bergen, Norway.