Counter Piracy Newsletter May - EU Naval Force

The NRP Alvares Cabral (front), sailing with the FS Georges Leygues (centre) and the FS Tonnerre (rear)

03.06..2013 EUNAVFOR

EU Naval Force Flagship NRP Álvares Cabral, EUCAP Nestor And The Seychelles Coast Guard Work Together To Reinforce Maritime Safety And Security Whilst alongside Port Victoria in the Seychelles, naval staff from EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Flagship NRP Álvares Cabral and the Seychellois Coast Guard came together on board the Portuguese ship to exchange maritime knowledge and experiences.

Spanish Warship ESPS Rayo Completes Successful Counter Piracy Deployment With EU Naval Force Spanish Navy Oceanic Patrol Vessel ESPS Rayo has completed a successful deployment with Operation Atalanta, having spent 85 days as part of the EU Naval Force off the coast of Somalia.

EU Naval Force Warship ESPS Numancia Conducts Training With Djiboutian Coastguard During a recent port visit to Djibouti ships company from the EU NAVFOR warship ESPS Numancia conducted training in support of EUCAP NESTOR with the Djiboutian Coastguard. EUCAP NESTOR is the EU’s Maritime Capacity Building mission within the Horn of Africa region.

EU NAVFOR Force Commander Bids Farewell To French Navy Ships Tonnerre and Georges Leygues As They Complete Their Counter Piracy Patrols During their final patrol with the EU’s counter piracy mission – Operation Atalanta, the French Landing Helicopter Dock, FS Tonnerre and Destroyer FS Georges Leygues, rendezvoused at sea with the EU NAVFOR flagship, Portuguese Frigate Alvares Cabral.

Counter Piracy Commander Warns Of Continuing Threat As EU Naval Force Warship Once Again Denies Suspect Pirates Freedom Of The Seas The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, has issued a renewed warning that Somali pirates are still determined to get out to sea and, if presented with an easy target, will attack.  “I am very concerned that seafarers and nations will lower their guard and support for counter piracy operations in the belief that the piracy threat is over.  It is not; it is merely contained.  We should remember that at its height in January 2011, 32 ships were pirated by Somali pirates and 736 hostages were held.  It is crucial that we remain vigilant or the number of attacks will once again rise.”

EU Naval Force Warship FS Nivôse Escorts World Food Programme Ship To Safety On 10 May, French EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) ship FS Nivôse completed a nine day escort of a World Food Programme (WFP) chartered vessel.  The WFP ship was escorted from Djibouti to the port of Mombasa in Kenya.

EU Naval Force Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft Delivers Equipment To Dutch Frigate At Sea Off The Coast Of Somalia On May 4 2013 the EU Naval Force Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft from the Spanish Air Force and based in Djibouti, flew far out to sea to the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, to deliver spare parts for her NH90 helicopter.

Swedish Defence Minister Welcomed On Board HSwMS Carlskrona In Djibouti During HSwMS Carlskrona’s recent visit to Djibouti, the Commanding Officer, Commander Mathias Jansson, was delighted to welcome on board Swedish Defence Minister, Karin Enström.

European Union Welcomes Somali Defence Minister and Delegation to EU Naval Force Operational HQ in London Earlier today the Somali Defence Minister and members of the Somali Cabinet visited the EU Naval Force Operation Headquarters in London. In view of the EU’s comprehensive approach to Somalia and its reinforced partnership with the country, the meeting was attended by the EU Naval Force Operation Commander, the Head of Mission of EUCAP Nestor , the Chief of Staff of the EU Training Mission Somalia , as well as representatives of the European External Action Service, the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa and EU Special Envoy to Somalia.

EU Naval Force Warship HSwMS Carlskrona Conducts Medical Evacuation Earlier this week HSwMS Carlskrona was contacted by the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Force Commander on board the flagship of the operation the Portuguese warship NRP Álvares Cabral. A member of the ships company of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) replenishment ship Fort Victoria, had suffered urgent and severe abdominal pains, necessitating an immediate medical evacuation.

Members Of The European Parliament Sub Commitee on Security and Defence visited EU Naval Force Operational Headquarters Earlier today members of the European Parliament Sub Committee on Security and Defence visited the Operational Headquarters of the European Union’s counter piracy mission – Operation Atalanta.

EU NAVFOR ATALANTA
EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia - Operation Atalanta is part of the EU's comprehensive approach to tackle symptoms and root causes of piracy off the coast of Somalia and the EU Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa adopted in November 2011.

EU NAVFOR conducts anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and the Indian Ocean and is responsible for the protection of World Food Programme (WFP) shipping carrying humanitarian aid to the people of Somalia and Horn of Africa as well as the logistic shippings supporting the African Union troops conducting Peace Support Operations in Somalia (AMISOM). Additionally, Operation Atalanta contributes to the monitoring of fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

For more information, please visit our website www.eunavfor.eu.