The OPV ‘Infanta Elena’ arrived at Lagos (Nigeria) to participate in a series of exercises organized by the U.S. Navy

The oceanic patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Infanta Elena’ called at the port of Lagos (Nigeria) from April 16th to the 18th to participate in the preliminary briefings of exercise ‘Obangame Express 14’ which will take place off the coasts of Nigeria and Cameroon in the next days.

In these exercises organized by the U.S. Navy, more than 20 African and Western nations will participate carrying out training drills on maritime interdiction (MIO) procedures, VBSS techniques, multinational command responsibilities, information exchanges and relations among Gulf of Guinea nations to enhance maritime security in the region.

All preliminary planning and training activities conducted ashore were subsequently implemented during the actual exercises at sea (19-21 April).

During these exercises, a VBSS (visit, board, search & seizure) squad from the Ivory Coast Navy embarked on the OPV ‘Infanta Elena’ to enhance training on maritime security operations. The Squad was assessed and advised by a Spanish Marine Corps Team. At some stage of the exercise the OPV performed as a simulated merchant ship and was successfully boarded by VBSS squads from Togo and Benin.

Apart from the briefings and planning sessions, Marine Corps instructors from the ‘Infanta Elena’ participated in several medical and MIO drills in port. The ship’s crew also trained a group of 17 Nigerian servicemen in fire-fighting and other damage control techniques.