On 16th July 2015, with the purpose of the Spanish Navy Day, many different activities were held on board the European Union Flagship (and EUROMARFOR flagship). The 16th July is the most important day in the Spanish Navy and is strongly celebrated everywhere in the Navy.

The Day started with a Naval Procession of the Holy Carmen Virgin, Saint Patron of the Spanish Navy, on board the pneumatic embarkation. The Holy Virgin was again welcomed on board by the FCdr, the CO and many crewmembers. Afterwards, another traditional procession in the flight deck was carried out. The religious commemoration acts concluded with a Holy Mass in the hangar, where the Chaplain prayed for the protection of all the crewmembers during their activities at sea and all the Spanish and worldwide seafarers.

The agenda for the day was quite busy. So many things to celebrate! Just after the Saint acts, flight operations were established to bring the Commander of the Combined Task Force 151, Rear Admiral Hiroshi Ito, on board, from the French Air Base of Djibouti, for a meeting with the FCdr as the Operation “Atalanta" assumed the role of Counter Piracy Coordinator for the next semester.

At the end of the meeting at sea between the two admirals, the Spanish helicopter brought the Japanese Admiral Ito back to Djibouti and the Spanish Chief of Defense Staff, General Admiral Fernando García Sánchez together with other Admirals and Generals such as the Joint Operations Commander on board, to celebrate together with the crewmembers the Spanish Navy Day.

The Chief of Defense congratulated the Spanish Navy crew for their contribution so far to the European Union’s counter-piracy operation “Atalanta” off the coast of Somalia.

“You have almost reached the half-way point in the Counter-Piracy deployment. The piracy activity is now in the lowest level since the beginning of the Operation “Atalanta”. However, do not fall in the daily routine and demand yourself the highest. I request you to work hard during the second half of your deployment as you have been doing since the first day. Feel proud of your work, and remember that you are representing the Spanish Navy” stated the Chief of the Spanish Defense.”

After the Chief of Defense speech, all the crewmembers together with the General Admiral García, and all the military staff that accompanied him during his visit, toasted His Majesty the Spanish King.

The Spanish Navy Day and the visit of the Chief of the Spanish Defense has raised the spirit of all the crewmembers to continue with the counter piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia in spite of the monsoon weather conditions.