During a counter piracy patrol on the Gulf of Aden, the Spanish Warship “Galicia” encountered at sea the Colombian Warship “7 de Agosto.

On the morning of the 22nd August, a crew members exchange among the two Warships, ESPS “Galicia” and ARC “7 de Agosto” was scheduled. In spite of all activities programmed for the encounter at sea, only the Force commander and staff members were able to visit the Colombian Warship due to the strong southwesterly winds blowing on the area.

During the encounter, the two warships performed light weight replenishment at sea to exchange some traditional gifts of the two countries. The passenger exchange was executed with the Colombian helicopter Augusta Bell 412.

“Today I have felt as at home as a result of the strong relationship between the Spanish and the Colombian Navies. Your Navy owns an impressive Warship ideal for an operation such as the Operation Atalanta. Thank you so much for your work in the operation”, stated the Force Commander.

The Colombian Warship joined the Operation Atalanta under the umbrella of the Spanish Navy as a “close Collaborator” to protect the World Food Program Vessels and all the vulnerable shipping sailing in the Indian Ocean along the Somali coastline and also to help to deter and disrupt the piracy activity.

Since the beginning of their deployment, the Colombian sailors on board “7 de Agosto” have patrolled the whole area of operations and have reassured the vulnerable shipping in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

The Spanish Navy is for the first time leading the integration of a non-European Navy in the Operation Atalanta. ARC “7 de Agosto” has a Spanish Navy liaison team on board to help co-ordinate the day to day operations with the flagship, ESPS Galicia. Despite they are on the operation as a “Close Collaborator”, the Colombian Warship “7 de Agosto” is being used with all her assets to provide a more secure maritime environment in the Indian Ocean.

The Colombian Warship “7 de Agosto” is the first Central American country to join a multinational military coalition which shows the strong commitment of the Colombian Navy to develop a secure maritime environment.