The patrol boat “Atalaya” collaborates with the Cameroon Armed Forces in Douala

·       The patrol boat has executed several joint training exercises with the Cameroonian Navy

After several days of patrolling Gulf of Guinea waters for the sake of maritime security and surveillance works, the patrol boat “Atalaya” has docked in Douala, Cameroon, as part of the African deployment in which the Spanish Armed Forces ship is immersed since mid-August.

During its stay in Douala, from 8^th to 11^th October, the patrol boat has performed collaboration and training exercises with the Cameroonian Navy, as well as diplomatic activities in fulfilment of the Defence Diplomacy Plan.

The support training exercises, aimed at improving the operational capabilities of the Cameroon Armed Forces, were focused on firefighting, boarding and diving operations, ship´s general manoeuvring and sailing.

Regarding diplomatic activities, the patrol boat commander visited on October 8 the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Governor´s cabinet, the Government delegation and several military authorities. In addition, he welcomed on board the Spanish Ambassador to Cameroon.

African Deployment in Gulf of Guinea

Spanish Armed Forces, under the command of the Defence Staff, is accomplishing the African Deployment mission with the aim of showing the activity and capacity of its ships as essential instruments for National Security, to defend our maritime interest in the area (fishing, maritime hydrocarbon traffic) and to contribute to conflict prevention in such a particularly sensitive area.

The Armed Forces also contribute to strengthen maritime safety in other world regions, by making use of its deployments in Africa to attain closer relations with the greatest possible number of countries. In this sense, in the framework of Cooperative Security, it executes intense activity in such countries as Senegal and Cape Verde. Its activity in African coasts, coordinated together with other western countries such as the United States, France, Portugal and Denmark, is based on agreements with some countries of the area.

Spanish activities in Gulf of Guinea are included within the EU framework. The Spanish, Portuguese, French and Danish Ministers of Defence have agreed to increase maritime security initiatives in the area.