Whilst Operation Atalanta’s Spanish Warship, ESPS Tornado was alongside in the Seychelles recently, members of her crew offered sea survival training to personnel from the Seychelles Air Force.
The two days of training included exercises in life raft and flare use, followed by a simulated aircraft crash in the sea. ESPS Tornado’s helicopter demonstrated the procedures for winching casualties from the water. Once back on the flight deck of the Spanish warship, the helicopter simulated an engine fire; the Seychelles Air force personnel were shown how ESPS Tornado’s firefighting team would deal with the emergency.
The training was extremely successful and ESPS Tornado’s crew was impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism of their counterparts from the Seychelles Air Force.
Training with regional forces is a vital aspect of Op Atalanta’s work. It improves cooperation between regional partners and ensures that the seas are looked after even when Atalanta warships are not close by. On leaving the Seychelles, ESPS Tornado returned to counter-piracy duties in the Indian Ocean.