Italian Sailors and Marines currently deployed on board EU NAVFOR’s flagship ITS Fasan have helped train members of the Somali Police Force Maritime Unit off the coast of Mogadishu.

The three days of training took place from the 7^th to the 9^th November with 23 members of the Somali Police Force taking part. This interaction further developed skills that were first attained in September by enhancing knowledge and application of boarding operations, body checking procedures and taking control of a merchant vessel.

The training was a great success contributing to the growing mutual understanding between EU NAVFOR and Somali maritime forces, a key regional partner in counter-piracy efforts.

EU NAVFOR’s mission is to deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy whilst at the same time build maritime capacity of local security forces like the Somali Police Force Maritime Unit.