EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

Over the weekend Spanish Marines on board ESPS Galicia carried out extensive training on board as the crew and embarked battle staff maintain their vigilance in deterring piracy off the coast of Somalia.

The European Union Naval Force’s (@EUNAVFOR) key role is to deter and disrupt acts of piracy against merchant ships as they transit within the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.  Ships of the World food programme (@WFP) that deliver, from the sea, humanitarian aid to the people of Somalia are provided with close protection in the form of an embarked military protection team or warship escort.

As part of the training, Spanish marines conducted ‘rapid-roping’ manoeuvres from one of ESPS Galicia’s SH-3D Sea king helicopters on to the flight deck and a live firing exercise.