The French frigate Courbet, engaged in Operation Atalanta against piracy has led a training for the benefit of Seychelles coastguard.
The Seychelles are particularly involved in the fight against piracy as their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is important and has repeatedly suffered acts of piracy against their ships. Since the beginning of Operation Atalanta in 2008, the archipelago has been particularly invested alongside the European Union to combat piracy, which harms tourism, fishing and trade and is home to many members of the [naval] force, including Courbet.
It was during a stopover in Seychelles from March 9 to 13, when the crew of Courbet gave instruction to several of the Seychelles coastguard. The program involved teaching the techniques of close operational response (TIOR or fight in melee Рhand-to-hand combat) and how to secure a hijacked ship. The aim of these courses, regularly conducted by the members of the European force Atalanta, is to allow coastguard of countries in the region to strengthen their own capacity to fight against piracy.
The frigate Courbet tasked 20 February 2013 was joined on 1 March by the French patrol vessel, L’Adroit.¬†The mission of the two French ships, under the mandate of the EU Task Force 465, is patrolling the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), recommended for safe seaway transit of merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden.
Operation Atalanta contributes to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy off the Somali coast.
Source: French Ministry of Defence
Via: http://www.oceanuslive.org/
