During a port visit to Dar Es Salaam 12 - 13 November, Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand, operating as part of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta, trained with sailors from the Tanzanian Navy.
EU Naval Force warships regularly conduct training and exercises with coast guards and navies of regional partners during port visits. This local maritime capability building aims to improve local co-operation and information sharing between the EU and the regional countries in the fight against piracy. ROS Regele Ferdinand conducted four workshops - covering navigation, force protection, first aid and fire-fighting/damage control. The workshops included some classroom instruction and a practical exercise. The number of participants for the workshops exceeded expectations, demonstrating the interest of regional states to take a role in the fight against piracy, as well as the quality of the training from ROS Regele Ferdinand and other EU NAVFOR units.
Moreover, on Monday 12 November, the Romanian frigate was visited by Her Excellency Mrs Julia Pataki - the Romanian Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya.
The Ambassador’s visit was followed on Tuesday 13 November by a visit from His Excellency Mr. Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, EU Ambassador to Tanzania, and Brigadier AA Mwenjudi - Deputy Chief of Naval Warfare in Tanzania for operations and training.
Speaking about ROS Regele Ferdinand’s contribution to counter piracy operations, His Excellency, Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi said, "I am very proud to see Romania, which joined the European Union in 2007, is fully prepared and actively participates in an EU common defense mechanism, such as Operation Atalanta. The EU Naval Force has already proved to be a successful operation and in co-operation with other international counter piracy forces, as well as industry, has effected a sharp decrease in the number of pirate attacks. Thanks again to your country and your crew for joining an effort that has proved very effective."
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