From June 16 to 19, 2026, Crew B of the metropolitan support and assistance vessel (BSAM) Rhône participated in a joint anti-pollution interaction exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy.
This operation, resulting from close cooperation between the French Navy’s practical expertise center for pollution control (CEPPOL) and the Moroccan pollution control center (CELAP), was structured around periods of theoretical training and practical implementation.
The exercise began with a presentation on accidental pollution at sea, given by the commanding officer of the Rhône. The audience consisted of officers from the Casablanca headquarters, the Royal Naval Academy of Morocco, and non-commissioned officers from CELAP. Following this, the crew detailed the capabilities of the BSAM, illustrating the broad range of its missions and the resources dedicated to protecting the marine environment.
During the operational phase, the Rhône and the OPV Rais Charkaoui deployed their pollution control equipment at sea, under the watchful eyes of French and Moroccan observers. The Rhône notably deployed a paravane (drift), provided by the pollution control unit of the Brest port services department. This equipment, valued for its ease of use, proved to be a crucial asset for the effectiveness of the pollution control boom deployment.
This initiative is part of Morocco’s strategy to strengthen its capabilities in response to the risks associated with intense maritime traffic in the strategic area of the Strait of Gibraltar.
The warm welcome offered by our Moroccan partners testified to the quality and cordiality of the relations that unite our two navies.