Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of CONTEX-PHIBEX, the biggest naval exercise the Portuguese Navy is organising this year, Admiral Mendes Calado said his biggest concern regarding the force under his command is the recruitment and retention of human resources.

"The Navy employs around 11,000 people, about 8,000 of who are military personnel and there we need another 800 or so.

"The Navy, and I believe other navies throughout the world are finding it very hard to recruit young people because life at sea is not easy. We live in an environment that is not exactly a natural environment for man", he said.

It is “not pleasant” to be far away from relatives and children, he added, saying the institution had to be made more attractive as a life project.