Spain takes command of the ‘Atalanta’ operation

• Spanish Rear Admiral Manuel Alvargonzález Méndez takes command of the 47th rotation from Italian Rear Admiral Francesco Saladino, who has commanded the force since 11 February

The handover took place at a ceremony held in the port of Djibouti on board the Italian ship 'Martinengo', and was presided over by the deputy commander of Operation 'Atalanta', Rear Admiral Éric Dousson.

The 46th rotation completes a deployment marked by increased piracy activity in recent months in Somali waters. Rear Admiral Saladino in his address called on ships sailing off the Somali coast to maintain a high state of vigilance in light of the recent escalation of piracy threats.

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Alvargonzalez pointed out that, "without a doubt, Atalanta has been an operational success". He added that it ensures its "maximum effort to fulfil our main tasks, which are to deter, prevent and repress piracy and armed robbery, while protecting the World Food Programme and other vulnerable shipments at the same time".

Alvaro González will lead 'Atalanta' operation with the frigate 'Numancia' as the mission's flagship. In addition to its organic capabilities, the frigate has a Marine Operational Security Team (EOS), an Embarked Air Unit composed of an SH60-F helicopter and a UAV "Scan Eagle" system from the Navy's Aircraft Fleet, as well as an advanced medical-surgical team, capable of on-board surgical interventions. The 'Numancia' is the third in a series of six frigates based in Cadiz, all of which continue the Spanish Navy's interrupted presence in ‘ Atalanta’ in the waters of the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean.