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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.

Earlier this month the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Major General Rob Magowan CBE, paid a visit to the Spanish and German Maritime Patrol Aircraft Detachments, based in Djibouti.

During their recent port visit in Djibouti, EU Naval Force warship, ITS Espero, conducted maritime training with a team from the Djiboutian Navy.

Following their successful hosting of the Somali Prime Minister and the EU Ambassador to Somalia on Monday, sailors and marines from EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, have been assisting staff from EUCAP Somalia, to train members of the Somali maritime police unit together with the AMISOM’

After attending the successful EU Day event in Mogadishu on Tuesday 9 May, EU NAVFOR’s Operation Commander, Major General Rob Magowan CBE, took the opportunity to fly to Djibouti to meet the Operation Atalanta teams that are based there.

EU NAVFOR’s Operation Commander, Major General Rob Magowan CBE, was welcomed aboard EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, by the operation’s Force Commander afloat, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas.

The 40th Shared Awareness and De-Confliction (SHADE) conference took place in Bahrain between 25 – 26 April, with military and shipping industry representatives from 33 countries and 14 international organisations taking part in a range of discussions and forums.

Earlier today EU NAVFOR’s Operation Commander, Major general Rob Magowan CBE, and Force Commander, Rear Admiral Fernandez-Pintado Munoz-Rojas, joined the EU Ambassador to Somalia, Veronique Lorenzo and EU mission heads at the international camp in Mogadishu’s international airport for a reception to

On Monday 8 May 2017 the European Union’s Ambassador to Somalia, Ms Veronique Lorenzo, hosted the Somali Prime Minister, H.E. Hasan Ali Khaire and State Minister, Abdullahi Hamud, on board EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia.

On 30 April 2017 EU Naval Force warship, ITS Espero, invited a delegation from the Bossaso Port Police and Puntland Maritime Police Force on board during EU counter-piracy patrols close to the port of Bossaso.

A Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) officer has been deployed on board the EU NAVFOR flagship since the operation was launched in December 2008, providing vital help and advice to masters of merchant vessels as they transit the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

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.