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Since the European Union launched the EU Naval Force in December 2008 to help deter and repress attacks by armed pirates on merchant vessels off the coast of Somalia, women have played a key role.

During their joint counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, marines from Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, and the Republic of Korea Ship (ROKS), Choi Young, carried out a range of boarding exercises on board their respective warships.

During their joint counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, the commanding officer of Republic of Korea warship, Choi Young, Kim Kyung Ryul, took the opportunity to invite Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas and his Force HQ staff on board.

On Friday 27 February 2017 marines and sailors on board Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, took time to celebrate the 480th anniversary of the Spanish Marine Corps.  The Spanish Marine Corps was founded by the King-Emperor Carlos in 1537 and is the oldest Marine Corps in the world.  Since

On Friday 24 February 2017 Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas assumed the role of Force Commander of the European Union’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta on board his flagship, ESPS Galicia, during a ceremony held in Djibouti port.

During a busy port visit to Antsiranana, Madagascar, the commanding officer of ESPS Relampago, Lieutenant Commander Francisco Garcia Flores, welcomed the Minister of Defence and senior military officers on board.  After a tour of the ship, the guests were invited to sign

In March 2017 the Republic of Korea's warship, Choi Young, will join the European Union’s counter-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR Somalia - Operation Atalanta.

Whilst operating in the southern Indian Ocean, Spanish marines and sailors from Operation Atalanta’s warship, ESPS Relampago, took the opportunity to exercise with sailors from the Kenyan Navy boat squadrons off Manda Island.

During their counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, Spanish marines and sailors from Operation Atalanta’s warship, ESPS Relampago, took the opportunity to train with AMISOM’s marine unit close to the port of Mogadishu.

During her port visit to the Seychelles, ESPS Relampago’s crew took the opportunity to carry out a range of maritime training exercises with the Seychelles Maritime Police, Coastguard and Air force.

During their port visit to Dar Es Salaam, sailors and marines from Operation Atalanta’s warship, ESPS Relampago, took the opportunity to train with members of the Tanzanian Police Force and Navy.

The crew of EU Naval Force Spanish warship, ESPS Relampago, were delighted to welcome aboard Commodore Hadyn Edmundson Royal Canadian Navy, during their port visit to Tanzania.