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In order to ensure sailors and marines aboard EU NAVFOR’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, remain fully prepared to respond quickly to a piracy incident or other situation at sea, they carry out regular training and exercises.

When deployed on operations it is crucial that sailors, marines and airmen train regularly to ensure they remain fully prepared to deal with any incident at sea.

As the changeover of EU NAVFOR’s force headquarters approaches, Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, took time out to thank key members of his Force HQ staff for their outstanding support and dedication as they prepare to depart ESPS Galicia in the coming weeks.

Spain’s Chief of Defence Staff, Army General Fernando Alejandre Martínez, recently took time to visit the Spanish Maritime Air Detachment at their base in Djibouti.  During his visit, he thanked them for their outstanding support to the European Union’s counter-piracy efforts off the coast of Somali

Italian Navy warship, ITS Espero, recently visited the port of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.  During the visit ITS Espero’s commanding officer, Commander Luigi Pirozzi, had the privilege of inviting on board the head of the EU delegation to Tanzania, H.E.

The Republic of Korea warship, ROKS Choi Young, recently completed her second term of support to EU NAVFOR off the coast of Somalia as part of South Korea’s efforts to deter piracy and provide reassurance at sea to masters and crews of merchant vessels as they transit across the region.

EU NAVFOR’s highly trained Montenegrin maritime protection team are currently deployed on board the World Food Programme (WFP) vessel, MV Esbjerg, to protect its valuable humanitarian aid cargo from any potential pirate attack as it sails close to the coast to deliver much-needed food to the people

During a port visit by ESPS Galicia to Djibouti, EU NAVFOR’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, had the pleasure of welcoming on board the Spanish maritime aircrew from the aircraft Orion and their support staff.

On 13 June 2017 Senior Captain Wang Zhongcai from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Escort Task Group (ETG) 577, welcomed Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, on board Chinese PLA Navy warship, Huang Gang.

Spanish Navy warship, ESPS Galicia, is the flagship of the EU Naval Force and she is currently deployed off the coast of Somalia to help deter acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

French maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and French Navy warships are currently deployed in the Horn of Africa region as part of France’s commitment to strengthen maritime security in the region.

A team of highly-trained Spanish marines has been deployed on board EU NAVFOR’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, for the past three months as part of Spain’s contribution to the European Union’s efforts to deter and disrupt acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.