On the morning of the 15th May 2018, EU NAVFOR’s Spanish warship Meteoro visited the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) to support the Seychelles Military counter-piracy effort.

The Seychelles are an important partner in the fight against piracy as they have the ability to prosecute suspected pirates detained by EU NAVFOR across the high risk area of the Western Indian Ocean. This is known as the ‘Legal Finish’ and is a fundamental part of Operation Atalanta’s collaboration with maritime partners in the continued effort to repress piracy that is seen today.

This ongoing support for Seychellois Forces, which includes the Anti-narcotics Unit, Maritime Police and Coast Guard focused on all types of illicit trafficking and boat operations. Without key regional partners and working together, piracy may resurge.

In addition to the land based training, members of the Seychellois Air Force met up with Spanish Sailors on board ESPS Meteoro. Here, they shared experiences on coordinating information with sea and air based assets