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Italian Warship ITS Zeffiro Conducts Friendly Approach with local seafarers Crew members of the EU NAVFOR warship ESPS Meteoro conducted 23 Friendly Approaches in only 3 days. As well as speaking to the local seafarers, the Meteoro provided the locals with water, food and in some cases technical and medical assistance. “This exercise is testament to the Seychelles Peoples Defence Force excellent cooperation with the EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor,” said the Chief of Defence of the SPDF, Brigadier Payet. “It also shows how the different branches of the SPD The “wounded” fisherman inside the helicopter, ready for transfer to the Seychelles Coast Guard Base. The Seychelles Peoples Defence Force and the European Union held a joint Search and Rescue exercise. On board the fishing boat, first medical assistance is provided before the patient is being prepared to go on board the helicopter. A member of the medical team is being lowered down from the Johann de Witt’s Cougar helicopter. The Seychelles Coast Guard patrol ship Andromache was part of the Search and Rescue exercise north of Mahe. Her task was to locate a fishing boat and “rescue” a “wounded” fisherman. During the exercise the helicopter was sent to collect the fisherman located and “rescued” by the Seychelles Coast Guard vessel Andromache, and fly him onshore for further medical care. The Helicopter of Johan de Witt and the Seychelles Coast Guard vessel Andromache working together in the Search and Rescue exercise. In only a short period of time, the helicopter approached the vessel to rescue the wounded fisherman. An overview from above: The Seychelles Coast Guard patrol ship Andromache, the fishing boat with the “wounded” fisherman and the Johan de Witt’s Cougar helicopter during the Search and Rescue exercise. The Dutch Cougar Helicopter taking off from the EU NAVFOR Flagship Johan de Witt. International teamwork in progress in a Search and Rescue exercise: the helicopter crew transferring the “wounded” fisherman to the Seychelles Peoples Defence Forces ambulance. To help strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU Naval Force and local seafarers, as well as obtain first hand information about possible piracy incidents in the area, EU Naval Force ships will sometimes make ‘friendly approaches’ to fishi The seafarers on the dhow and skiffs responded to hailing and the master invited the boarding team from FGS Niedersachsen on board. With the help of a Somali linguist, the Boarding Team was able to approach and speak to the master of the dhow about the EU The boarding team and the linguists left the Niedersachsen with the speed boat to talk to the men on the skiffs and dhow. Over the radio, the soldiers keep constant contact with the frigate. "Every trip is a journey into the unknown. But we are ready for The German frigate FGS Niedersachsen deployed with the EU Naval Force was tasked to conduct such friendly approaches, which become more important with the approaching end of the monsoon period. The sea off the Horn of Africa is calming down and many of th The Medical Officer talks with the two sailors after they have received further medical treatment onboard the Spanish EU Naval Force frigate The injured sailors leave ESPS Numancia on their way to receive further treatment in hospital in the Seychelles The Filipino sailors are guided from the Spanish ship's helicopter to the sickbay The two sailors from the chemical tanker MT Perla arrive onboard the EU Naval Force warship ESPS Numancia One of the sailors saing good bye to Numancia A delegation from the European Union’s capacity building mission, EUCAP NESTOR were welcomed on board by Force Commander, Commodore Peter Lenselink. The delegations from the different missions talking about further enhancing their co-operation. EU Naval Force Flagship HNLMS Johan de Witt Representatives from various militaries Operation Atalanta Medal presented to Finnish AVPD Handshake Handover from Finnish to Lithuanian AVPD Finnish AVPD FIN and LIT AVPD Representatives from WFP, Operation Atalanta, Finnish Navy and Lithuanian Armed Forces Finnish AVPD Presented with Operation Atalanta Medal Commander Kurt Leonards (CO FGS Niedersachsen) reports the formal handover to Captain Stefan Pauly, from the Operations Command of the German Armed Forces. The crews of the two German frigates stand at ease during the speech of Captain Stefan Pauly, from the Operations Command of the German Armed Forces. On 14 August 2013, distinguished guests attending the handover ceremony on the flight deck of the frigate FGS AUGSBURG. The two German frigates FGS Niedersachsen and FGS Augsburg side by side. Commander Bernard Veitl (CO FGS Augsburg - left) passes the baton to his successor Commander Kurt Leonards (CO FGS Niedersachsen) with Captain Stefan Pauly, Branch Head of Maritime Operations, overseeing the ceremony (middle). ESPS Meteoro and its SH6B helicopter conducting a medical evacuation. EU Naval Force warship ESPS Meteoro transporting a casualty to Djibouti. In less than three hours, the crew of the EU Naval Force Warship ESPS Meteoro , who reinforced the damaged rudder with metal sheets and bolts, were able to confirm that it was fully operational.