During the last week, the ESPS Galicia’s boarding team completed her first friendly approach of the Operation ATALANTA. Since the beginning of the mission until now, ESPS Galicia has been involved in other different task in order to control the maritime traffic situation.
A friendly approach is an amicable and voluntary interaction with local seafarers who are not suspected of being engaged in acts of piracy. The boarding team tries to understand the Somali pattern of life as well as to give them assistance.
The boarding party has been prepared during the previous months of the Operation ATALANTA in order to conduct these friendly approaches in the best manner.
All these acknowledges acquired are high valuables while the Operation ATALANTA and permit them to teach Somali seafarers how to response to an act of piracy. The boarding team taught them also many different sanitary assistance procedures.
During the friendly approach, the Leader of the boarding party spoke with the skipper of the fishing boat about the piracy situation off the coast and many other concerns that they had. He recognized that with the EUROMARFOR Naval presence in the area they fill more secure.
These kinds of operations show the strong commitment that the European Naval Force has to upholding maritime security in the area.
This is the third time that ESPS Galicia takes part on the Operation ATALANTA since the start, back in the year 2008. ESPS Galicia continues monitoring illegal fishing activities and protecting vulnerable shipping off the coast of Somalia.
