A Portuguese Navy ship embarked on a mission to Africa this Wednesday. “The NRP Viana do Castelo departed today, August 21, from the Lisbon Naval Base for the ‘Open Sea Initiative 2024’ mission. This mission will last about four months along the African coast, with visits planned to 10 countries, including all Portuguese-speaking African countries,” officials explained in a statement.
According to the Navy, the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Gouveia e Melo, was present at the start of this mission and noted the relevance of the navy in the South Atlantic.
Gouveia e Melo stated that the initiative in question is “relevant for Portugal, for Europe, and for NATO.”
“The NRP Viana do Castelo is commanded by Commander Ricardo José Sá Granja and has a total of 57 military personnel on board, including a Marine security team, a team of sapper divers, and a team operating unmanned aerial systems,” the statement concludes.
