The flagship of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), NRP Alvares Cabral has conducted a fast-rope insertion exercise on a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel, providing the opportunity for Portuguese sailors to meet their Finnish colleagues embarked on the WFP ship as an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD).

Whilst patrolling in the Gulf of Aden EUNAVFOR’s flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral, met with MV Caroline Scan, a WFP chartered vessel, whose security is provided by a Finnish Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD). The boarding team from the Portuguese warship took the opportunity to conduct a fast-rope insertion exercise, a demanding operation that requires a combination of courage and skill from both the marines and the helicopter´s crew.