The frigate F-81 'Santa Maria' calls at the port of Muscat as part of its maritime surveillance activities

• The Operation 'Atalanta' flagship hosted the handover of the Force Commander of the anti-piracy mission in the Indian Ocean.

The frigate 'Santa Maria' has called at the Omani port of Muscat, during its deployment in Operation 'Atalanta', which provides surveillance and deterrence against piracy and illicit trafficking in Indian Ocean waters.

During the stopover, the handover ceremony of the Force Commander of the Operation was held. Portuguese Commodore Armando Pereira da Costa Valente Tinoco transferred the tactical command of the EUNAVFOR Force Operation Atalanta (FCDR) to Commodore Alexandre Joaquim Gamurça Serrano, also Portuguese. Once again, the Portuguese FCDR command post is aboard the Spanish frigate.

Prior to the handover, the 'Santa María' received on board with honors the Spanish Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Francisco José de Istúriz Simonet.

During the last few months, the frigate has carried out patrols along the Somali coast. Among these operational activities, the location and monitoring of a Chinese fishing vessel hijacked by pirates off the east coast of Somalia stands out. The 'Santa Maria' has also carried out exercises with the Pakistani frigate 'SIAF' (PNS 253), which strengthened the ties and cooperation between friendly groups in the waters of the Arabian Sea. This frigate has remained in the Atalanta operation until February 2025.

‘Atalanta’ Operation

Operation Atalanta was the result of a series of UN resolutions adopted after the increase in acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean from 2005 onwards. With Spain's strong support, in 2008 it became the first EU naval operation to be carried out within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy.

Since 29 March 2019, after taking over from the United Kingdom, Spain has led the operation from the Operational Headquarters located at the Rota Naval Base (Cádiz).

Furthermore, at the end of 2022, the EU Council approved the extension of the operation's mandate until December 2024, reflecting the achievements reached and the challenges for the future. Over this time, the operational area has been extended in successive mandates. Currently, it covers the Gulf of Aden and neighbouring countries, including the port and city of Muscat (Oman), the Somali basin, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.

Regarding the support for Operation Atalanta, Spain is contributing approximately 350 military personnel, as well as the following means and units:

·         The Operation Headquarters, OHQ, at Rota Naval Base.

·         One frigate/ warship.

·         An embarked helicopter.

·         An embarked special operations team.

·         One maritime reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft (DAT ‘Orion’) in Djibouti.

·         Liaison offices located in Mogadishu (Somalia), Manama (Bahrain), Brussels (Belgium) and Port Victoria (Seychelles).

·         Operation Logistics Support Unit deployed in Djibouti (Djibouti).

As a demonstration of our commitment to security in the region, Spain has been the only European Union country to have participated continuously in Operation ‘Atalanta’ since its launch 16 years ago.