On September 29, the high seas patrol vessel (PHM) Commandant Ducuing made a technical stopover in Port-Gentil in Gabon. The purpose of this stopover was to resupply the vessel with fuel and water as part of the CORYMBE mission.
This step allowed Commander Ducuing to continue his maritime surveillance operations in the Gulf of Guinea , a region where illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is rife.
From 5 to 26 October, the embarkation of a Gabonese officer’s ensign on board a P200 patrol boat in Port-Gentil added an important dimension to this mission. The ensign brought valuable knowledge of the West African environment, thus reinforcing the effectiveness of actions taken against illicit activities at sea.
This international cooperation illustrates the importance of sharing expertise and know-how between the French Navy and its African partners. The CORYMBE mission , through this type of collaboration, strengthens interoperability between maritime forces and supports joint efforts to ensure maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea .
Since 1990, one or two French vessels supported by a maritime patrol aircraft have been deployed in the Gulf of Guinea on a quasi-permanent basis as part of Operation CORYMBE . By strengthening the capacities of coastal navies, France is participating in the development of the security architecture resulting from the Yaoundé process. Operation CORYMBE completes the French system in West Africa by participating in the maritime aspect of operational cooperation. Furthermore, this deployment is in line with the concept of coordinated maritime presence supported by the European Union.