Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Gibraltar divers and HMS Dagger work with Morocco navy in Tangier
27 November 2024
Divers in Gibraltar joined forces with HMS Dagger to work alongside the Royal Moroccan Navy for the first time.
The Gibraltar Clearance Diving Element (CDE) sailed to Tangier with vessels from the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron for the joint dive.
Operating a Vahana-class support boat nicknamed Crabb from its call-sign, the team of five divers and one engineer transited across the Strait of Gibraltar in company with both HMS Dagger and HMS Cutlass before leaving Cutlass behind to travel the 40 nautical mile journey.
The transit to Tangier Bay is the furthest Crabb – which takes its name from the legendary WW2/post-war diver Buster Crabb – has travelled so the exercise was a good demonstration of its reach and its ability to sail with the Cutlass-class fast patrol boat.
On arrival at Tangier Marina, the diving team received a warm welcome from the Royal Moroccan Navy Diving School, berthing next to HMS Dagger in the bay.
The exercise itself was hosted at Ksar Sghir, a Moroccan Military Port around 30km east of Tangier Bay, and the team were met by Commander Mounir Tamim, the Commandant of the Royal Moroccan Navy Diving School.
Following introductions and an exchange of gifts, the divers were given a tour of the impressive Diving School, including their current equipment, hyperbaric compression chamber and future capabilities.
Co-ordinating the serial, a thorough dive brief was delivered by Lieutenant Zazdi of the Moroccan Navy which would see two divers from each nation conduct a joint search for an ammunition tin, in the harbour.
Suiting up shortly after the brief, the divers entered the water wearing Scuba apparatus and started the search in a circular pattern.
Such is the skill and knowledge of both nations, the tin was found within minutes. Not ones to shy away from a photo opportunity, the divers surfaced to collect both the British and Moroccan flags, submerging again to take the obligatory ‘underwater flag photo.’What is immediately obvious is how similarly our nations operate, the potential that exists and the mutual benefit to both nations in continuing to work together.
Lieutenant Commander Davies, the senior RN officer on the exercise, said: “The level of hospitality we have received from the Moroccan Dive School has been incredible.
“What is immediately obvious is how similarly our nations operate, the potential that exists and the mutual benefit to both nations in continuing to work together.
“I am confident this will be the first of many joint exercises with Morocco and now we have proven how far Crabb can go, other neighbouring nations.”
Chief Petty Officer Roberts, the Officer in Charge of the Gibraltar Clearance Diving Element, added: “I am delighted the CDE was able to train with our counterparts from the Moroccan Dive School, the training and discussions were well received by both teams, and I am looking forward to this being the start of a longstanding relationship.”
On completing the diving, the team were hosted at lunch by Commander Tamim and discussed how the two nations would look to operate together in the future, with early plans in place for Gibraltar to reciprocate the invitation and host their Moroccan counterparts in 2025.
Setting sail the same day to avoid inclement weather, HMS Dagger and support boat Crabb returned to HMNB Gibraltar, escorted by other elements of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron.