The BAM ‘Rayo’ weighs anchor in Port-Gentil to continue her voyage through West Africa

• During her stopover, the ship conducted training exercises with Gabonese Navy personnel, as well as activities in support of the diplomatic delegation

In the port of Port-Gentil, Gabon, the Maritime Action Ship (BAM) “Rayo” has ended her stopover and is now sailing through African waters en route to Luanda, Angola, as part of the European Union's Coordinated Maritime Presence in the Gulf of Guinea (CMP-GoG). During her stay in port, the BAM “Rayo” carried out various activities in support of the Spanish Diplomatic Delegation, as well as joint training exercises with the Gabonese Navy.

After arriving at the Gabonese port, the Rayo—commanded by Lieutenant Commander Jose Antonio Parejo Cabezas—welcomed the Spanish Ambassador to Gabon, Rafael Chaves Beardo, aboard with honours. During his visit, the Spanish diplomatic representative had the opportunity to learn about the ship's different areas and capabilities, as well as her missions and tasks during her African navigation, which began on 1 September after setting sail from the port of Las Palmas.

In the following days, joint training exercises were carried out with Gabonese Navy personnel, which served to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of maritime security: a shared interest of both nations. Among other things, Commander Parejo emphasises, "we carried out vehicle access control and inspection exercises, boarding procedures at sea, as well as putting into practice compartment search and inspection techniques. All of these became an excellent opportunity between sailors from both countries to share their experiences and knowledge."

Furthermore, a reception was held on the ship's flight deck, a meeting that helped strengthen ties between the diplomatic representation, the Spanish Navy, and Gabon's civil and military authorities. These events contribute to strengthening Spain's presence abroad, as well as strengthening relations with allies and strategic partners in an atmosphere of camaraderie and professionalism.

Collaboration with the United Nations

Finally, as part of the Safe Seas for Africa programme, a series of conferences organised by the United Nations Office anti-Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was held, focusing on maritime security, the fight against irregular immigration, piracy and drug trafficking.

During these days, a joint exercise was carried out between the Spanish Navy, the Gabonese Navy and UNODC personnel, simulating the boarding of a ship that had been attacked by pirates, followed by a search and the collection of evidence. This exercise contributed to strengthening cooperation and knowledge sharing between the participating institutions, with a view to addressing maritime security challenges more effectively.

All in all, this deployment of the BAM “Rayo” helps to strengthen the European Union's Coordinated Maritime Presence (CMP) initiative on the West Coast of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea as an effective tool for improving maritime security in the area and advancing cooperation between the EU and the States of West and Central Africa. Since 2015, Spain has included navigation in the Gulf of Guinea within her defence diplomacy activities. In 2021, the European Union launched the CMMP, in which the Spanish Navy has participated since then.