Offshore patrol 'Furor' (P-46), completes last stopover of Gulf of Guinea deployment

• The 'Furor' has been in port in Dakar for a week to carry out coordinated military cooperation activities with the coastal country and activities in support of the Defense diplomacy

The offshore patrol vessel 'Furor' has been docked for a week in the port of Dakar, the last week that the ship is on the African coast before returning to Spain after four months of deployment.

During its stopover, the BAM 'Furor' has received on board the Spanish ambassador to Senegal, Dolores Ríos Peset, with the traditional 'saludo a la voz', (military honours). It has also completed an intense program of military cooperation that ended with an exercise at sea with the Senegalese patrol boat 'Niani'.

Among the military cooperation actions, it is worth mentioning the theoretical and practical training on knowledge and operation of diving equipment, UAV M5D-AIRFOX, the YARIS platform, portable weapons, maritime interdiction operations and practices on how to deal with fires and floods on board.

These activities with the Senegalese Navy personnel, in addition to reaffirming Spain's ties with the country, contribute to strengthening the maritime capabilities of the coastal states to deal with existing threats in the area, such as uncontrolled, unregulated or illegal fishing, armed robbery in fishing areas or anchorages, or even piracy.

The drill that the 'Furor' carried out with the OPV 'Niani' of the Senegalese Navy consisted in the simulation by the Spanish ship of having been pirated. Then, a group of Special Operations of the Senegalese Navy successfully carried out the assault and detention of the pirates on board through a non-cooperative boarding.

The 'Furor' received on board the visit of part of the Spanish colony living in Senegal. In addition, six members of the ship's crew visited the Brazilian ship P-121 "APA" docked at the same dock in Dakar. Six Brazilian officers had the opportunity to pay a visit on board the 'Furor'. The crew of the Spanish ship takes advantage of these events to establish relationships based on mutual trust, allowing an increase in collaboration between friendly navies in terms of international maritime security.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of H.M. the King, the ship was dressed up with the general flag flying as a sign of festivity and the crew formed early in the morning on the deck to carry out a solemn flag raising and commemorative acts on board. 

A reception was also held on board, attended by the Spanish ambassador to Senegal, representatives of the Senegalese Navy authorities, representatives of Spanish defense companies and a large group of foreign ambassadors and defense attachés. Among the attendees was a representation of the personnel of the DAT MARFIL of the Air and Space Force.