THE SPANISH SHIP "TORNADO" IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE WATERS

Activités portuaires Thursday 16 November 2023

 

To strengthen bilateral cooperation between Côte d'Ivoire and Spain, HEM. Soriano ORTIZ Rafael, Ambassador of Spain to Côte d'Ivoire, paid a visit on Monday 02 October 2023 to the Abidjan Port Authority, represented by Colonel COFFI Emmanuel, Port Commander.

This visit, during which the Spanish Ambassador was accompanied by Commander David Mandado CASTILLO, Commander of the maritime action ship P-44 "Tornado", comes as this Spanish warship is due to dock at the Abidjan Port's new grain terminal on 1 October 2023.

The "Tornado" has been on a security mission in the Gulf of Guinea for the past few months, with the aim of ensuring maritime security, including the fight against piracy, illicit trafficking and terrorism at sea, as well as the fight against illegal fishing. Its presence in the Abidjan Port is part of the military cooperation between Côte d'Ivoire and Spain.

Its deployment is part of the European Union's "Coordinated Maritime Presences" (CMP) project, which aims to strengthen coordination and capacity for action with countries in the Gulf of Guinea region.

The meeting was an opportunity for Commander COFFI to present the Abidjan Port to the Spanish delegation, through its traffic, activities, performance and modern facilities.

The representative of the Managing Director underlined the importance that Côte d'Ivoire attaches to the action of European countries in the context of security activities in the Gulf of Guinea. He thanked the Spanish navy for its involvement, and gave the assurance that all the necessary steps would be taken to ensure that the ship would call at the Abidjan Port under the best possible conditions.

The Spanish navy, like those of other European countries, is involved in maritime surveillance, capacity-building for coastal states and support for the defence diplomacy of the countries of the Gulf of Guinea, with the aim of improving maritime security in this area.