Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Santa Maria recently enjoyed a break from her counter-piracy patrolling under Operation Atalanta and had five days alongside in Port Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, on Mahe Island.

Whilst there, the crew of ESPS Santa Maria took the opportunity to conduct training exercises with the Seychelles Air Force, Coastguard and Maritime Police Units. The training included first aid scenarios, planning for Search and Rescue missions and force protection exercises.

This training formed part of Operation Atalanta’s ongoing Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) and is part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to tackling the piracy issue. The aims are to strengthen relationships between EU Naval Force and regional partners and to promote cooperation in the fight to keep the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden safe from pirate attacks.

At the end of the port-visit, ESPS Santa Maria returned to her duties, deterring and disrupting piracy off the Somali coast.