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.
During their deployment the marines worked tirelessly to help keep seafarers safe by conducting boat patrols along the coast and it was the Spanish marines who went on board the merchant ship, MT Costina, after the master put out a Mayday alert to say that his ship was being attacked by a number of armed pirates in a fast-moving skiff. When the suspected pirates became aware that an EU NAVFOR warship was fast approaching, they broke off their attack and fled into the night. The marines then went on board MT Costina to provide reassurance to the master and his crew, with an inspection of the ship’s structure confirming that it had a suffered a number of bullet holes during the attack.
As well as conducting their counter-piracy patrols, the Spanish marines also helped to train local maritime forces, including the Malagasy Navy, AMISOM Marine Unit and the Somali Police Force in force protection and boarding operations. The training, which took place during ESPS Galicias’s port visits, served to strengthen the maritime capabilities of regional forces.
Before they departed ESPS Galicia for home, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, took the opportunity to shake each marine by the hand and to thank them personally for their hard work and dedication.
During their deployment the marines worked tirelessly to help keep seafarers safe by conducting boat patrols along the coast and it was the Spanish marines who went on board the merchant ship, MT Costina, after the master put out a Mayday alert to say that his ship was being attacked by a number of armed pirates in a fast-moving skiff. When the suspected pirates became aware that an EU NAVFOR warship was fast approaching, they broke off their attack and fled into the night. The marines then went on board MT Costina to provide reassurance to the master and his crew, with an inspection of the ship’s structure confirming that it had a suffered a number of bullet holes during the attack.
As well as conducting their counter-piracy patrols, the Spanish marines also helped to train local maritime forces, including the Malagasy Navy, AMISOM Marine Unit and the Somali Police Force in force protection and boarding operations. The training, which took place during ESPS Galicias’s port visits, served to strengthen the maritime capabilities of regional forces.
Before they departed ESPS Galicia for home, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, took the opportunity to shake each marine by the hand and to thank them personally for their hard work and dedication.