The Italian Navy frigate “Federico Martinengo” (F596) made a stop in the port of Larnaca, Cyprus. The Martinengo, is conducting a patrol operation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to carry out activities of presence and surveillance of maritime spaces, in compliance with international law and to protect Italian national interests.
During the stop, which began last Friday 6 December, the commander and a crew representative took part in the celebrations of St. Nicholas, patron saint of the Cypriot Navy. Leaving the port, frigate Martinengo will conduct training activities with ships from the navies of friendly countries (Republic of Cyprus and France) from 12 to 14 December.
The presence in the port of Larnaca is part of the Naval Diplomacy – Naval Diplomacy activities, peculiarities of the Navy, carried out in the field of international cooperation and dialogue between the countries of the area, with which Italy has important political relations- diplomatic, economic and industrial.
Several foreign companies, including ENI, have received licenses from Cyprus for offshore drilling. Last year, Ankara prevented the activities of the vessel Saipem 12000, chartered by ENI. On the last October, off the coast of Cyprus, a Turkish drilling vessel was sent to an area licensed by Nicosia to ENI and French company Total.
(Italian Navy)