The frigate ESPS Santa Maria, flagship of the European Naval Force – Operation ATALANTA, conducted a Local Maritime Capacity Building activity between 19th and 21st December, outside Somali territorial waters. The activity, in coordination with the EU capacity-building mission EUCAP Somalia, consisted in three days of training with Somali Police Force – Maritime Police Unit and Coastguard members.
The activity encompassed navigation procedures on nautical letters, radar and communications equipment, first aid and Boarding Search and Seizure procedures. It was the first time that assets from the Somali Police Force – Maritime Police Unit and Coastguard made a transit with two boats outside the 12 nautical miles to embark and disembark their personnel on/from the frigate Santa María.
On the course of the exercises, the Somali officers had the opportunity to share experiences on board and exchange impressions with the crewmembers of the Spanish ship. At the end of the training, the Atalanta Force Commander, Commodore Nuno Filipe Cortes Lopes, awarded the participants a certificate, attesting the successful training and highlighting the excellent job done.
Local Maritime Capacity Building activities are one of EU NAVFOR’s key objectives, included in the Operation’s mandate, and remain a critical element in supporting Somalia’s maritime security requirements and the construction of a regional maritime security architecture.
