January 2010

On the afternoon 27 January MCC Northwood hosted a short visit by the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Poroshenko, the Deputy MFA Mr Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, the Defence Attaché Col. Kyryliuk and Secretary Nikitov.

In early December a Pakistani fishing vessel was hijacked by pirates not far from the territorial waters of Oman and, during the attack, one of the fishermen was shot in the leg just below the knee.

On the morning of Saturday 23rd of January, EU NAVFOR Warship BREMEN boarded a skiff inside IRTC.

On the 23rd of January, EU NAVFOR Warship ESPS NAVARRA completed successfully the escort of MV POWER STAR to Salalah.

While patrolling in the Gulf Of Aden, EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA, with COMEUNAVFOR RAdm Giovanni Gumiero embarked, provided the Pakistan Navy Frigate PNS KHAIBAR with fuel and water, thus enhancing the spirit of cooperation among coalition Naval forces operating on anti piracy patrol in the

On the 20th of January, EUNAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF  successfully completed the escort of AMISOM chartered cargo vessel ALPHA KIRAWIRA, Sierra Leone flagged, from MOGADISHU to MOMBASA.

On the afternoon 18 January, General Hakan Syren, the chairman of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) visited EU NAVFOR’s Headquarters in Northwood, near London.

On 18 January 2010, the Greek crude Oil Tanker M/V MARAN CENTAURUS was released outside Haradere off the coast of Somalia.

On the 16th of January 2010, taking advantage of the vicinity of the two Flagships in the Gulf Of Aden, CTF 465, RAdm Gumiero, and CTF 525 (Chinese People Liberation Army Navy Task Force), Senior Captain Qiu Yanpeng took the opportunity to  arrange a meeting.

On the early morning of 16 January 2010 pirates attacked the Indian vessel M/T JAG LAYAK in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

On the afternoon of Wednesday 13 January the non-European Union member in EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN returns home after six months on anti piracy patrol.

On the occasion of the Refuelling At Sea (RAS) between the EUNAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA and the Korean warship ROKS CHUNGMUGONG YI SUNSHIN, in the Gulf of Aden, Rear Admiral Giovanni Gumiero took advantage of the proximity of the two ships to visit Captain Myung Sung Kim, Commander of CheonHae

After almost three weeks patrolling in the Gulf of Aden, EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA called in to DJIBOUTI on the 7th of January 2010, for two days.

EU NAVFOR successfully escorted MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA from Mombasa (Kenya) to Mogadishu (Somalia).

On the late afternoon of 1 January, UK Flagged M/V ASIAN GLORY (a vehicle carrier) owned by ZODIAC Maritime Agency, was hijacked in the Somali Basin approximately 900 nautical miles north of the Seychelles and 600 miles from the coast of Somalia.

On the morning of 1 January 2010, the Singaporean Flagged M/V PRAMONI, a chemical tanker of 20,000 dead weight tonnes, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden.

In the evening of 28 December, the Panama flagged (Greek owned) Bulk Carrier, the MV NAVIOS APOLLON, was hijacked approximately 200 nautical miles East of the Seychelles.

On 2 January, 2010 the Pakistan flagged fishing vessel named SHAHBAIG with a crew of 29, all from Pakistan, was released approximately 900 nautical miles north of the Seychelles. The vessel was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, 320 nautical miles east of Socotra, on 5 December.

On the late afternoon of 1 January, UK Flagged M/V ASIAN GLORY (a vehicle carrier) owned by ZODIAC Maritime Agency, was hijacked in the Somali Basin approximately 900 nautical miles north of the Seychelles and 600 miles from the coast of Somalia.

On the afternoon of 28 December the U.K Flagged Chemical Tanker the M/V ST JAMES PARK, owned by PHILBOX LIMITED, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden whilst transiting the International Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC).

On the morning of 1 January 2010, the Singaporean Flagged M/V PRAMONI, a chemical tanker of 20,000 dead weight tonnes, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden.