The ARK project shall first and foremost support NATO and NATO Response Force, and furthermore establish the necessary strategic sealift capacity for the committed units of Germany and Denmark to amongst others the NATO Response Force.

The aim of the ARK project is that the ships are permanently at disposal for the conduct of operational tasks for the German and Danish defence, the NATO alliance and their coalition partners. This shall ensure that the necessary sealift capacity is at disposal, so that NATO has the necessary freedom and mobility to act with flexibility and credibility – as well political as military.

A further aim is to ensure stable charter costs for sealift in case of a crisis/war.