On Friday 30 October 2015 Operation Atalanta warships, ESPS Meteoro and HNLMS Groningen, carried out training with the Seychelles Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Police during their port visit to Port Victoria.

The busy day of training started with ESPS Meteoro welcoming the Seychelles Air Force on board to practice sea survival techniques following an aircraft ditching, with briefings about basic survival techniques and the various types of equipment used.

At the same time on board Dutch warship HNLMS Groningen, the Seychelles Marine Police and Coast Guard conducted maritime security and fire-fighting training with the Royal Netherlands Marine detachment.

After proceeding out to sea, HNLMS Groningen and the Seychelles Air Force took the opportunity to train in maritime surveillance and search and rescue procedures.

Operation Atalanta warships regularly engage with regional states during port visits and have helped to train and develop counter-piracy and maritime security procedures in the region.

Close cooperation with regional states, such as Seychelles, is vital to the success of EU Naval Force in Somalia.