During a recent visit to Port Victoria in The Seychelles, EU Naval Force frigate, FGS Lubeck, conducted training with five officers from the local Marine Police Patrol Unit.
Once on board, the officers received both theoretical and practical navigation training.
This type of training, which is referred to as Local Maritime Capacity Building, is a key part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to the Horn of Africa, and assists regional states to enhance their maritime capabilities in the fight against piracy.
After being welcomed on board by FGS Lubeck’s Executive Officer, Commander Rüdiger Fitz, the visitors received an initial navigation briefing on the ship’s Bridge, before they commenced their training.
The Seychelles officers were shown the capabilities and use of electronic charts, that are being used more and more by ships’ navigators. They were also briefed on the importance of the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which collects information on vessels, including their call sign, next port of call and final destination. Collecting this information has enabled counter-piracy forces to develop better situational awareness of merchant traffic in their patrol areas, and assess their safety as they transit the piracy High Risk Area.
As well as being briefed on the use of electronic charts, the officers were also briefed on how to draw up navigation plans on paper charts; a skill that has been passed down to ships’ navigators for hundreds of years.
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Image: EUNAVFOR