EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA and the Seychelles Defence Forces conducted the first phase of the joint exercise “ALDABRA V” in Victoria, Seychelles. This advanced training activity aimed at promoting cooperation among the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA, Seychelles Defence Forces, and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC). Moreover, the exercise was supported by relevant partners in the Indian Ocean, such as the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the Critical Maritime Routes in the Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO), and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
In the 2026 edition of ALDABRA, the exercise has been divided into two phases. The first phase consisted of seminars, practical exercises on board the Seychelles Coast Guard patrol vessel ANDROMACHE, a simulated piracy case scenario led by RCOC alongside CRIMARIO, and activities with the TAZAR elite forces of the Seychelles Defence Forces. The second phase will involve a live exercise in late June, during which all the lessons covered in the first phase will be put into practice, with assets from ATALANTA and the Seychelles Defence Forces deployed jointly.
Related to the seminars, legal advisers from the CMF and UNODC delivered lectures on human rights at sea, illegal fishing and piracy. ATALANTA Shipping Advisor provided a lecture on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and representatives from the STRATCOM branches of ATALANTA and the CMF Headquarters presented lectures on this matter.
A piracy incident scenario was also carried out, led by the CRIMARIO representative. The Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform was the tool for information management, with RCOC operators coordinating the joint actions of participants and generating the various alerts sent to the maritime community, as well as to ATALANTA forces and the Seychelles Coast Guard. This simulation is crucial for the second phase of ALDABRA V, during which a live exercise will be conducted in a realistic scenario.
In addition, firefighting and first aid drills were carried out on board the Seychelles Coast Guard patrol vessel ANDROMACHE. To this end, personnel from the Italian Navy, in support of ATALANTA, conducted simulations of on-board fires and firefighting, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and damage control.
On the other hand, the Seychelles Special Forces TAZAR trained in Advance Close Quarter Battle, Tactical Combat Casualty scenarios and combat shooting along with EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Special Forces and UK Royal Marines Commados, as CMF support.
ALDABRA is an essential meeting point for cooperation and coordination between ATALANTA and the Seychelles Defence Forces, along with several partners in Maritime Security in the North-Western Indian Ocean region. This joint effort ensures maximum effectiveness and the best possible coordination among all participants to counter common threats at sea.
