Spanish Oceanic Patrol Vessel Docks in Nouakchott, Mauritania

The oceanic patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Infanta Elena’ called at the port of Nouakchott (Mauritania) to conduct joint training exercises with the Mauritanian Navy. This is the last port of call of her APS deployment before returning back to Spain.

During the call, more than 30 Mauritanian servicemen participated in several maritime interdiction (MIO) and damage control exercises planned by the Spanish OPV.

A MIO exercise consisted in a briefing on the available weapons for this type of operations, and a boarding drill by a Mauritanian VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure) squad. For the damage control drill, a fire was simulated on board, and the appropriate fire-fighting techniques and procedures explained.

Protocol visits
Apart from the scheduled training activities with members of the Mauritanian Navy intended to enhance the maritime control of their own territorial waters and EEZ, the ship’s CO, Lieutenant-Commander Jorge Melero paid protocol visits to the Chief of the Mauritanian Navy, the Maritime Operations Center and the Spanish Embassy.

In addition, the ‘Infanta Elena’ welcomed a group of Mauritanian schoolboys aged 12 to 15 who were toured around the patrol vessel and had the chance to watch their Servicemen train on board the Spanish ship.

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Press Release, May 7, 2014; Image: Spanish Navy