Five warships, currently deployed as part of Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia, recently met in the Gulf of Aden.
Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ITS Carabiniere, was joined by Spanish warships, ESPS Victoria and ESPS Meteoro, Dutch warship HNLMS Groningen, and German warship, FGS Erfurt on Friday, October 23. The ships came together in a close-formation and practiced close-quarter manoeuvres.
During the rendezvous the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Barbieri, paid a visit to HNLMS Groningen and ESPS Meteoro for the first time since taking command of the force.
Rear Admiral Barbieri said:
This is an important time for Operation Atalanta; the improving weather in the region means pirates may find it easier to get out to sea, therefore we have to remain vigilant.
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Image: EUNAVFOR