2023-10-02 00:15:43
Views: 145
A Spanish ship “Tornado” was on call in Cotonou from Monday September 25 to Friday September 29, 2023 as part of the European Union’s “Coordinated Maritime Presences” project. On the eve of their departure, on Thursday September 28, 2023, David Castillo Mandado, commander of the ship and Javier Yrayzoz, head of operations on board the boat jointly hosted a press conference to explain the reasons for their presence and the activities already carried out. .
What is it about : The European Union continues its commitment to contributing to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, through maritime security operations and naval presence. After the “Mistral” stopover in Cotonou, it is the “Tornado”, a Spanish ship which has docked since Monday September 25, 2023 on the banks of the Port of Cotonou. This naval deployment contributes decisively to the strengthening of the The coordinated maritime presences initiative as an effective instrument to improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. The objective of this mechanism in the region is to ensure permanent maritime presence and readiness, promote international maritime cooperation and provide greater operational capacity.
What they did in Cotonou:The purpose of the “Tornado” mission, according to Commander David Castillo Mandado, is to carry out maritime surveillance and military cooperation with the States of the Gulf of Guinea. During the press conference, the head of operations on board the boat, Javier Yrayzoz, stressed that this mission allowed them to be in tune with the realities of sea threats in the Gulf of Guinea. In Cotonou, he continues, the crew of the BAM Tornado carried out joint activities with the Benin national navy and experience sharing and capacity building exercises. “We had carried out military cooperation activities, through good training between the Beninese navy and our navy. This is an excellent opportunity for us,” he said. According to him, boarding, diving, fire control and flood control exercises were at the heart of their training with their Beninese counterparts.
According to the head of operations of BAM Tornado, Javier Yrayzoz, this stopover in Cotonou is an opportunity to strengthen mutual trust with the national navy by helping to increase their capabilities in the field of maritime security.
Between the lines :This European Union initiative was warmly applauded by Commander David Castillo Mandado, who noted that this strengthens good cooperation between Benin and the EU, and in turn a good relationship with Spain. This is also why, on the occasion of this stopover, the Ambassador of Spain to Benin traveled to Cotonou, at the head of a delegation which includes the Consul General and the Advisor Economic and Commercial, in order to give impetus to relations between Benin and Spain. This press conference allowed media people to visit the different compartments of the ship.
#Spanish #ship #Tornado #calls #Cotonou