Spanish warship ESPS Meteoro has successfully completed its participation in the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Operation Atalanta. After four months of counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, it’s time to head for home for the ship’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Juan Carlos Perez Guerrero, and his crew.
During her time with the EU Naval Force, the ship spent 121 days at sea, navigated 18,000 nautical miles and conducted nine fuel replenishments at sea. The Spanish warship also carried out 79 friendly approaches, provided technical assistance to a stricken dhow, gave medical assistance to injured seafarers and conducted three joint training missions with local Coast Guards. The ship’s SH60B helicopter crew has also been very busy, flying a total of 137 hours during 60 flight operations.
Speaking about ESPS Meteoro’s time with Operation Atalanta, the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Juan Carlos Perez Guerrero, said “This has been a challenging period; sometimes exciting and rewarding, sometimes demanding and difficult, but overall very interesting and motivating.”