OPV Furor strengthens maritime cooperation through several activities in Gulf of Guinea waters

•  The vessel has taken part in the multinational exercise Obangame Express 2026 and has conducted a PASSEX with the Ivorian patrol vessel Vaillance.

 Within the framework of the deployment of the Coordinated Maritime Presences in the Gulf of Guinea (CMP‑GoG), the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Furor (P‑46) has carried out several maritime cooperation activities in African waters.

During the last week of April, OPV Furor took part in the multinational exercise Obangame Express 2026 (OE‑26), organised by United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). The objectives of the exercise are to strengthen regional maritime cooperation, improve maritime domain awareness and enhance the implementation of the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security.

In this fifteenth edition, more than 30 nations participated, and activities focused on visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) procedures, communications, coordination between Maritime Operations Centres (MOCs) and the legal management of incidents at sea.

Throughout the exercise, OPV Furor was integrated into different multinational scenarios alongside naval units and command centres from countries in the region such as Benin and Nigeria. On board the Spanish vessel, a search exercise was conducted and practical courses on first aid at sea were delivered. In addition, the vessel acted as a suspect vessel in a maritime pursuit activity, and a boarding operation using fast‑rope insertion from a Nigerian Navy helicopter was carried out.

In addition to this multinational activity, Furor conducted a PASSEX with the Ivorian patrol vessel Vaillance in waters close to the Ivorian coast. Both units carried out coordinated sailing, communications exercises and joint procedures aimed at reinforcing response capabilities to incidents at sea.

A crew exchange (CROSSPOL) was also conducted, during which three members of the Ivorian Navy were temporarily embarked on board the Spanish vessel in order to become familiar with its operational capabilities and exchange professional impressions.

Through this type of activity, Spain continues to strengthen its role as a reliable partner in West Africa and in the Gulf of Guinea, actively contributing to regional security, reinforcing cooperation and promoting a coordinated naval presence in an area of particular strategic relevance for global maritime trade.

European Union Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP)

This deployment of OPV Furor forms part of the European Union Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) initiative on the West Coast of Africa and in the Gulf of Guinea, aimed at coordinating the naval presence of Member States in areas of strategic interest, contributing to the protection of maritime routes and to supporting national interests abroad.

Since 2012, Spain, as a fully committed partner to European security and defence, has been one of the main contributors to this European initiative, contributing to maritime security in African waters.