On Saturday 8th August 2015, Colombian warship, ARC 7 de Agosto, arrived
in the Gulf of Aden to start her counter-piracy operations in close
collaboration with Operation Atalanta. Commanded by Captain Darwin Alberto
Alonso Torres, ARC 7 de Agosto has a Spanish Navy liaison team on board
to help co-ordinate the day to day operations with the EU Naval Force
flagship, ESPS Galicia. |
The
Colombian warship will work together with the EU Naval Force in escorting
and protecting World Food Programme (WFP) vessels and vulnerable shipping
along the Somali coastline and also help to deter and disrupt any acts
of piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Over the past three years security for
vessels and their crews off the coast of Somalia has significantly improved,
with no merchant ship being pirated since May 2012.
Built by Colombian shipyard Cotecmar, ARC 7 de Agosto is a large offshore
patrol vessel based on the German design of the Fassmer OVP 80, |
ARC
7 de Agosto of Colombian Navy