Djiboutian Coastguard Training

May 2013

The Coast Guard of Djibouti conducted training exercises with vessels from the European Naval Force this past month. During a port call, the ESPS Numancia of Spain joined members of the Coast Guard as part of EUCAP NESTOR, a regional European Union initiative.

EUCAP NESTOR aims to increase the maritime security capacity of local states around the Horn of Africa. European nations are hopeful that with a little maritime domain awareness development, countries in this region will be more able to contribute to anti-piracy efforts. Currently, NATO and EUNAVFOR are the main enforcers of security in the waters off the Horn of Africa, which have recently been plagued by pirates.

Lieutenant Commander Fernando Diaz del Rio was responsible for training the members of the coast guard. During a two hour session, the Coast Guard trainees were instructed by the Engineering Department of the Numancia on how to fight an on-board fire. Specifically, they learned how to use a motor pump and use autonomous breathing equipment. They also learned how to fight fires individually with fire extinguishers and as a group, using fire hoses.

After sharing bread baked fresh from on-board the Numancia, the Commanding Officer of the ESPS Numancia, Luis Diaz-Bedia Astor, addressed the teams. He highlighted the importance of this kind of training, and how these exercises improve overall maritime capabilities, both to fight piracy and improve port function in general.