On Tuesday 20 October 2015, Operation Atalanta’s new flagship, ITS Carabiniere, was visited by the Operation Commander, Major General Martin Smith MBE.

Major General Smith, together with the officer in charge of the Support Element Atalanta (SEA) based in Djibouti, Commander Philippe Dezoteux, was hosted on board ITS Carabiniere by the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri and the Commanding Officer of the Ship, Cdr. Francesco Saladino.

The commanding officers from the German and Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachments based in Djibouti also accompanied Major General Smith to the flagship.

Following a tour of ITS Carabiniere, and the opportunity to meet members of the ship’s company, the commanders and Major General Smith discussed the current maritime security situation off the coast of Somalia, and welcomed the ITS Carabiniere to Operation Atalanta.