On 16 of November, EU NAVFOR Italian Warship Federico Martinengo visited the Port of Mombasa, in Kenya. There the ship’s crew carried out the second combined exercise together with Kenyan Navy counterparts.
During the exercise, EU NAVFOR’s crew showed techniques to the Kenyan Navy in firefighting, first aid and anti-flooding procedures.
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This exercise comes after the visit by ‘Martinengo’ to Mombasa on the 18 of September. At that time, the exercise regarded firefighting and first aid as well, but it also focused on Counter Improvised Explosive Device drills.
Lieutenant Lucia Mwaniki from the Kenyan Navy, stated:
We really appreciated the warm welcome on board ITS Martinengo, we are really grateful for the combined exercise and it was a pleasure to work with EU NAVFOR
With this operation, EU NAVFOR aspires to improve piracy prevention in the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean.
This exercise was a part of EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta, which aims to tackle piracy and other maritime-related crime. Before this operation, EU NAVFOR escorted the World Food Programme ship ‘MV Petra I’ on its humanitarian mission.
Almost 1.8 million tonnes of food aid have reached the Somali people through the direct protection from European Union Naval Forces over the last 10 years and this is due to continue for at least another two years after the Operation Atalanta mandate was extended to December 2020.
