Whilst operating in the southern Indian Ocean, Spanish marines and sailors from Operation Atalanta’s warship, ESPS Relampago, took the opportunity to exercise with sailors from the Kenyan Navy boat squadrons off Manda Island.
The training included briefings and exercises on search and rescue, helicopter operations and boarding a vessel that is suspected of being involved in piracy.
Maritime training with regional partners, such as the Kenyan Navy, is an extremely important aspect of Operation Atalanta’s work to deter piracy off the coast of Somalia. The aim is to strengthen cooperation with regional maritime forces to help seafarers stay safe during their transits across the Indian Ocean.
Speaking about the exercise, ESPS Relampago’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Francisco Garcia Flores, said “I was delighted to welcome Lieutenant Colonel Tomas Onchiri and his teams onboard. We worked hard and strengthened the mutual respect that we have for each other.”