The frigate ‘Numancia’ takeover ‘Canarias’ in Operation ‘Atalanta’

• Over the next five months, the Spanish Navy vessel will be integrated into this European Union mission.

The frigates ‘Canarias’ and ‘Numancia’ have successfully completed today their operational handover in the port of Djibouti. With this transfer of responsibilities, ‘Numancia’ assumes continuity of the contribution of the Spanish Armed Forces to maritime security, regional stability and freedom of navigation in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

The military ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Enrique Núñez de Prado Aparicio, Chief of Staff of the Operations Command (JEMMOPS). During his remarks, the Vice Admiral congratulated the outgoing crew for their impeccable professionalism and highlighted the high strategic value of Spanish naval presence in this international theatre.

The frigate ‘Canarias’ thus concludes a four-month deployment of intense activity. During this period, the vessel has led key maritime surveillance missions, cooperation with allied navies in the area and proactive naval presence, consolidating the objectives of the European Union in the Horn of Africa.

For its part, the frigate ‘Numancia’ begins its period of integration into this European Union mission for the next five months. The vessel and her crew face this challenge with full guarantees after having successfully completed a rigorous process of readiness, training and operational certification.

Among its priority tasks are the escort and protection of vessels chartered by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for Somalia, counter-piracy operations and the monitoring of illicit activities off the African coast.