After a visit of the ship and particularly the operational room and presentation of the sensors and weapons, the Djiboutian coast guard was briefed on the measures to be implemented when under pirate attack.
This was also the opportunity to brief them on Best Management Practices and protective measures that could be carried out by merchant vessels. The coast guards will therefore be able to inform in turn the merchant vessels cruising off or in Djibouti, and thus participate in the fight against piracy. Knowing each other will also possibly ensure enhanced coordination when dealing with piracy event off Djibouti.
The Djibouti navy sailors were mainly briefed on Mercury, an internet-based secured network used as an alert and coordination by all the anti-piracy stakeholders, civilian and military. This training is paramount for them in view of the Djiboutian Navy operational center which will be inaugurated soon.
A coordinated planning of all the training sessions in regional countries has been established, under the supervision of Force Headquarters on board FS Marne, and is implemented by all EUNAVFOR ships when visiting ports in the area of operation. This is part of EU’s comprehensive approach on the fight against piracy and particularly of EUNAVFOR’s will to participate actively in the maritime capacity building process of regional navies and coast guards.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, May 14, 2012; Image: eunavfor