Operation ATALANTA Force Commander Meets with Omani Authorities

"Both EU NAVFOR and the Omani authorities present in Salalah reiterated their mutual will to cooperate in the shared objective of protecting maritime trade passing through the Gulf of Aden."

Rota, 29 August 2019--During a port visit in Salalah last week, Force Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation ATALANTA, Rear Admiral Armando Paolo Simi, Commanding Officer of the flagship ITS Marceglia, Commander Francesco Fagnani, and the Italian Military attache in Oman, Captain Barbalonga met with civil and military authorities of the region.

The Minister of State and Governance of Dhofar, H.E. Sayyid Mohamed bin Sultan Al Busaid, the commander of the Southern Naval Area Commander, Mohamed Awadh Saloomi, and the Commander of the Police in Dhofar ,Brigadier General Mohsen bin Ahmed Al Abri were present to receive the European delegation.

During the meeting, both EU NAVFOR and the Omani authorities present in Salalah reiterated their mutual will to cooperate in the shared objective of protecting maritime trade passing through the Gulf of Aden. These vessels very often stop in the port of Salalah.

Also during the visit, four officials of the Omani Royal Navy trained in Local Maritime Capacity Building exercises on board ITS Marceglia. Some of the training focused on navigation through shallow, port water.