Yesterday morning (April 11), whilst sailing along the northern coast of Somalia, the Spanish frigate ESPS Numancia, deployed with the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, performed a friendly approach on a Yemeni dhow to help promote understanding about EU NAVFOR´s mission amongst the regional maritime community and to gather information about the pattern of life in the area.
The dhow’s master invited the small team from the Spanish warship to go aboard and meet the crew.
The master said that whilst sailing in the Gulf of Aden, along the Somali and Yemeni coastlines they had not seen any pirate interaction for the last two years.
The master seemed to be aware of EU NAVFOR´s activity in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and mentioned that he had never been visited by a Spanish warship before.
The members of the ship’s team gave information leaflets about the EU Naval Force among the fishermen, and also provided them some food and bottles of water, before returning to Numancia.
This type of interaction with regional fishermen is seen as important as it helps to give awareness of EU NAVFOR´s counter piracy operation and the protection that the warships provide. It also helps to increase the EU Naval Force understanding of the local maritime community and obtain first hand information about possible piracy activities in the area.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, April 12, 2013; Image: EUNAVFOR