During a port visit to Muscat, the European Union Flagship, Spanish Warship “Galicia” strengthened ties with the Combined Counter-Piracy task Force 151 represented by the Pakistani Warship “Aslat”.
On the 12th August 2015, the ESPS “Galicia” arrived to the port of Muscat after a Counter piracy patrol off the East coast of Somalia of 10 days.
So as to seize the opportunity that, both the Operation Atalanta flagship and the Pakistani Warship moored in the port of Muscat, a meeting on board the Spanish Warship was held to coordinate efforts against piracy activity.
The Commanding Officer of the Indian Warship “Aslat”, Commander Jamal Alam, and his delegation, were welcomed on board the Spanish flagship by the Chief of Staff, Captain Jens Nykvist and the Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Pita da Veiga.
The Pakistani delegation made a tour along the flagship visiting the bridge, the hospital, the hangar, the dike and the staff room. During the visit, they made a family picture in the flight deck.
Afterwards, they had some talks in the Force commander cabin with the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Alfonso Gómez Fernández de Córdoba and the flagship Commanding Officer, Captain Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas.
The Pakistani frigate is a unit of the Combined Task Force 151 that has as a main mission the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the exchange of information and experiences during the meeting was truly fruitful.
In addition, since the last 15th July 2015, the European Union Naval Force has the role of counter piracy coordinator among the different military forces present in the area of operations that have the main mission of deterring and disrupting piracy. These types of interactions are essential to coordinate the efforts between the counter piracy units.
“I thank you so much for your visit on board the EU flagship. Visits in port like these ones are an example of the close relationship between the two counter piracy task forces not only at sea but also during our port visit. These kinds of interactions will lead us to the end of piracy in the Indian Ocean”, stated the force Commander.
“I would be truly committed to collaborate with the European Union Naval Force units when necessary. It is very easy to work together. Navy officers and seafarers in general, we understand really well each other, we shake hands and then we speak the same language: the naval language” stated the Commanding officer of the Pakistani ship “Aslat”.
