The patrol boat “Atalaya” docks at Abidjan and cooperates with the Ivory Coast Armed Forces

·       Patrol boat P-74 has executed several joint training exercises

The patrol boat “Atalaya” has docked at Abidjan, Ivory Coast, after two weeks of sailing in the Gulf of Guinea waters for maritime security and surveillance missions.

The Abidjan port is part of the second African deployment phase, in which the Spanish Armed Forces ship is engaged since mid-August.

From 18^th to 21^st September, the “Atalaya” has been docked at port, executing joint training exercises with the Ivory Coast Armed Forces, as well as participating in diplomatic activities on the accomplishment of the Defence Diplomacy Plan.

During its stay in the Ivorian city, the crew has welcomed the Spanish Ambassador of the Ivory Coast, Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu. He had the opportunity of becoming personally aquainted with the main characteristics of the Spanish ship, as well as the national industry capacity in support of our Armed Forces. Moreover, the ship offered a reception on board attended by the diplomatic and Spanish communities with residence in Abidjan.

The stay in the Ivorian Port also constituted an opportunity to visit the MOC (Maritime Operations Centre) of Abidjan and the protection and professional initiation centre for young people without resources “Amigo Doumé”. In this centre, Atalaya provided support in electronics and mechanical repairs, as well as in manufacturing a septic tank filter system.

Regarding support training exercises, the patrol boat crew has worked together with local Navy in different actions, including medical assistance in combat zones, and boarding and diving operations. For this purpose, conferences were held, procedures were explained and several practical exercises aimed at improving operational capabilities of the Ivory Coast Armed Forces were developed.

After its layover, the “Atalaya” continues with its African deployment and its Cooperative Security activities in the Gulf of Guinea.

African Deployment in the Gulf of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea is one of the places in the world where global security can be destabilized due to piracy and armed robbery.

Armed Forces, coordinated by the Operations Command (MOPS in Spanish) and under the command of the Defence Staff, accomplishes this mission in order to show the activity and capacity of its ships as essential instruments for National Security, to defend our maritime interests in the area (fishing, maritime fossil fuel traffic) and to contribute to the prevention of conflicts in a particularly sensitive area.

The Armed Forces also contribute to strengthen maritime safety in other world regions and it makes use of its deployments in Africa to be present and to promote closer relations with the greatest possible number of countries. Within the framework of Cooperative Security, it executes an intense activity in Mauritania, Senegal and Cape Verde. Its activity in African Coasts, coordinated along with other western countries such as the United States, France, Portugal and Denmark, is based on agreements with some countries of the area.

Spanish actions in Gulf Guinea fall into the UE framework, where the Spanish, Portuguese, French and Danish Defence Ministers have agreed to foster maritime security initiatives in the area.