The patrol boat “Atalaya” assists a drifting fishing boat in Angolan coast

·       Running out of fuel, the vessel had drifted for five days

The patrol boat “Atalaya”, deployed in West Africa and Gulf of Guinea, has assisted a drifting Angolan-flagged fishing boat.

The vessel, of small length, had a crew of eight persons. They told to the patrol boat´s Visit and Register Part (Trozo de Visita y Registro) that because of running out of fuel, they had been drifting for five days. During these days, their own fishing was all they ate.

The “Atalaya” crew provided the vessel with enough fuel to arrive to the port of Luanda, an assistance that was very much appreciated by the Angolan crew.

The patrol boat “Atalaya” continues with its maritime surveillance mission within the framework of the African Deployment. During these days, it is taking part in the “Grand African Nemo” international exercises, organised by the French Navy, aiming at strengthening the capabilities of the navies and of maritime security centres located in the countries along the Gulf of Guinea. The exercises will finish next week in the port of Tema, in Ghana, place where the “Atalaya” will continue with its training activities of the local navies.

About the African Deployment mission in Gulf of Guinea

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

Armed Forces, under the command of the Defence Staff, accomplish this mission in order to exhibit the activity and capacity of its ships as essential instruments for National Security, to defend our maritime interests in the area (fishing, maritime hydrocarbon traffic) and to contribute to conflict prevention in a particularly sensitive área.