Frigate “Canarias” returns to Rota after four months deployed for the EUNAVFOR ‘A Operation “Atalanta”

·        Frigate “Canarias” returns to the Rota Naval Base after completing its four-and-a-half-month deployment for the EUNAVFOR Operation ‘Atalanta’ to fight against piracy off the Coast of Somalia

Frigate "Canarias" has returned to the Rota Naval Base after completing its four-and-a-half-month deployment at the EUNAVFOR "Atalanta" to fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Since its departure on 8^th July, the Spanish frigate has sailed 21,500 nautical miles through the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, visiting the ports of Souda (Greece), Djibouti (Djibouti), Salalah (Oman), Victoria (Seychelles), Mombasa (Kenya) and La Valleta (Malta).

During its deployment, the ship has embarked a SH-60B helicopter of the Tenth Aircraft Squadron that has performed 110 hours of flight, mainly in intelligence missions, surveillance and reconnaissance of the Coast of Somalia.

It has also embarked a Marine Infantry Security Operating Team during the first part of the deployment, which was later relieved by a Special Naval Warfare Force Team. With the support of both, 16 local vessels have been visited to check and obtain information on development of the mission.

As a noteworthy fact, frigate "Canarias" rescued a vessel belonging to the Somalian Guard Coast that was damaged on the coast with seven soldiers on board, in an area threatened by the terrorist group Al Shabab.