ESPS Galicia is currently deployed in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean as part of Spain’s contribution to the European Union’s efforts to deter and disrupt pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia.

To ensure the Spanish marines on board remain fully prepared to protect World Food Programme vessels carrying humanitarian aid to the Somali people, as well as merchant ships carrying cargo to and from Europe, they carry out boarding operation training each week.

Training such as this is a key part of a warship’s routine and sailors and marines also regularly carry out other drills at sea, such as fire-fighting and first aid training to ensure that they are fully prepared to react to any incident at sea or when in port.