During their port visit to Salalah naval officers from the EU Naval Force Italian warship, ITS Espero, took the opportunity to meet masters of merchant vessels that were also alongside in the port.

During the visits the Italian naval officers took time to explain the EU’s counter-piracy role in the Horn of Africa sea areas and highlighted the role of EU NAVFOR’s Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa, (MSCHOA).  Located within the EU NAVFOR operations centre, MSCHOA is an initiative established by EU NAVFOR in close co-operation with the shipping industry.  MSCHOA provides 24-hour monitoring of vessels that transit through the Gulf of Aden and the provision of an interactive website, called Mercury, that enables the latest counter-piracy guidance to be published.  Shipping companies and operators can also register their vessels’ movements as they transit through the region.  EU NAVFOR and other counter-piracy forces may then be deployed to assist, as required, in the event of an emergency or pirate attack.

During the port visit commanding officer of ITS Espero, Commander Pirozzi also took the opportunity to engage officers from the Combined Maritime Forces who were along side in Salalah during the visit. They discussed the recent piracy incidents and the importance of naval cooperation in the fight against Somali-based piracy.