The frigate ‘Victoria’ and offshore patrol vessel ‘Meteoro’ rendezvous with the other Operation ‘Atalanta’ warships

The frigate ‘Victoria’ and offshore patrol vessel ‘Meteoro’ rendezvoused with the Dutch ship ‘Groningen’, the German ‘Erfurt’ and Italian ‘Carabiniere’ which are currently participating in operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean under the command of Italian Rear admiral Barbieri.

These five ships, plus two maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and the support personnel ashore are tasked with the mission of preventing pirate attacks in the Horn of Africa. Spain has collaborated in this operation since the very beginning with many naval and air assets. At present, and apart from the two warships, Spain has also deployed a D-4 VIGMA MPA.

Operation ‘Atalanta’

Naval units participating in the EU-led counter-piracy operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean are entrusted with the protection of vulnerable shipping in the area, especially WFP (World Food Program) and AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) ships. They also monitor fishing activities and collaborate with other international missions in the area.

The ‘Meteoro’ is in the theatre of operations since August, and is scheduled to return home by mid-November bordering South-Africa. Frigate ‘Vistoria’ joined the mission at the beginning of October and will be deployed until February 2016.