Warship ESPS Rayo provided much-needed medical assistance during a ‘friendly approach’ to local Yemeni seafarers during counter-piracy operations in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

This was the sixth friendly approach that ESPS Rayo has achieved since joining Operation Atalanta.

Thanks to favourable weather conditions, the ship’s radar systems were able to spot the vessel from a good distance, with the highly-trained radar operators identifying it as a fishing dhow sailing southbound.

ESPS Rayo’s sea boat then approached the vessel and spoke with the master in-charge who invited them on board.

Once on board, the Boarding Party saw that one of the fishermen had an injury to his foot, so ESPS Rayo’s Medical Officer gave him medical attention.  The dhow’s crew was also provided with drinking water and food.

Meetings at sea with seafarers help to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU Naval Force and local seafarers. It also enables counter-piracy forces to obtain first hand information about possible piracy incidents in the area.