The NRP "Setúbal", which since Wednesday arrived in Angola in the Ambriz region, is already in the capital and is already carrying out actions together with the Angolan Navy for training, education and exchange of experiences in the field of maritime safety.
On Friday, the crew received an official visit from Portuguese and Angolan entities, mainly linked to the Angolan and Portuguese navy, as well as other diplomatic individuals, who were informed about the valences and functions of the Portuguese Navy ship.
Nuno Chaves Ferreira, naval commander of the Portuguese Navy, recalled that the "Open Sea" mission embodies the commitment of the Portuguese State within the scope of the international commitments assumed by Portugal with the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).
"This initiative is carried out with a view to promoting and boosting cooperation with the CPLP countries and is focused on various aspects, but in particular on maritime security, namely in the Gulf of Guinea", he told journalists.
He noted that every year the Portuguese Navy designs a ship: "This year it will design two ships, that is, the NRP "Setúbal" and a harpoon submarine which is currently crossing the southern Atlantic from Brazil to South Africa and then will return and be here in Luanda on the 23rd of June".
Since Wednesday, when it arrived off the coast of Ambriz, Bengo province, the Portuguese ship has launched a team of marines ashore for collaboration and cooperation with the Angolan marines and exchange of experiences between the two forces.
"In addition, cadets from the Naval School of Angola who had the opportunity during the transit of Ambriz to train here, do the exercises that the garrison does, including man-overboard exercises, firefighting", he stressed.
"Basically, these types of initiatives are a practical expression of cooperation at the level of defense and allow, in addition to the training that is given in another area, to give the opportunity to all the military of our allied and friendly navies to train together and create ties of cooperation", concluded the naval commander of the Portuguese Navy.
And Rear Admiral João Cambole, acting commander of the Naval Operational Squadron of the Angolan Navy, also noted the solidification of relations between both navies with the presence in Luanda of the NRP "Setúbal".
"With this initiative, we also signed a partnership in terms of training and operational training for our cadets, our military, so that we can establish a more fruitful and consolidated relationship", he noted.
On behalf of the Portuguese ambassador in Angola, the minister counselor of the embassy Ana Brito Maneira spoke, who highlighted the strong bilateral ties of cooperation between the armed forces of Portugal and Angola, particularly in terms of the navy.
"In effect, cooperation in the field of defense between Portugal and Angola has a historic and wide-ranging nature, with the first framework agreement signed between the two countries dating back to 1996", she said.
"We cannot fail to value the comprehensive and collective vision of this connection of ours and which contributes to an increasingly integrated and capable approach of the CPLP, in particular its defense component", she pointed out.
Ana Brito Maneira also hailed the "Open Sea" initiative, which "allows us to be in Luanda today aboard the NRP "Setúbal"", considering it to be a very concrete example of cooperation between Angola and Portugal and which enhances several of its domains , especially in the field of maritime security".
The NRP "Setúbal", which has about 50 crew members, including garrison guides, a team of marines, a team of navigators, among others, leaves Luanda on Monday for South Africa, where it will participate in the celebrations of the 10th of June.
