February 2010

EU NAVFOR can now confirm that the Greek owned Panama flagged Bulk Carrier the MV NAVIOS APOLLON that was hijacked on the 28 of December has been released this morning of 28 February.

EU NAVFOR can confirm that on the morning of 27 February a ransom drop was successfully made for the release of the Greek owned  Panama flagged Bulk Carrier, the MV NAVIOS APOLLON. The MV NAVIOS APOLLON was hijacked on the 28 of December approximately 200 nautical miles East of the Seychelles.

On Wednesday 24 February, ministers of the defence of the European Union agreed that from the end of March they will expand the objectives of Operations Atalanta to include control of Somali ports where pirates are based, as well as ‘neutralising’ mother ships that allow the pirates to opera

The designated Swedish Force Commander and his multinational staff have now completed the Joint Mission Preparation (JMP) at EU NAVFOR Operational Headquarters in Northwood in readiness for taking over from the Italian FHQ in April.

EU NAVFOR can now confirm that the Singaporean flagged M/V PRAMONI that was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on the morning of 1 January 2010 is released.

EU NAVFOR can confirm that on the morning of 26 February a ransom drop was successfully made for the release of the Singaporean flagged M/V PRAMONI that was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on the morning of 1 January 2010.

On 19th February the EU NAVFOR German warship FGS Emden was tasked to investigate a dhow and a skiff acting strangely in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

On the 28th of January, the World Food Programme (WFP) Motor Vessel M/V MASAR TRADE started her transit north from Mogadishu to Berbera, a port in northern Somalia, in order to deliver goods and humanitarian aid.

On 17th of February, FS NIVÔSE left her home port of La Reunion to join the European Naval Force Somalia - Operation ATALANTA (EU NAVFOR).

Recent photographic evidence from anti piracy coalition forces show that pirates continue to roam the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in search of prey.

The UK Flagged M/V ASIAN GLORY, hijacked on 1 January in the Somali Basin, is understood to have put to sea from its anchorage in Heredeere late yesterday and conducted logistical pirate transfers further south, off the Somali coast.

On the 17th of February, the Senior French Member of Parliament, Louis Giscard d’Estaing, Deputy President of the Financial Committee visited the EU NAVFOR Force HQ Support Area (FHQSA) in Djibouti.

European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) welcomes three military personnel from the Czech Republic: two officers, namely Lt Col Jozef Podoba (Senior National Representative) and Lt Col David Peter, and one NCO, WO Lubomir Volny.

On the afternoon 11th February, EU NAVFOR Warship ITS ETNA successfully completed her first escort in ATALANTA Operation.

M/V WIN FAR 161 that has been anchored off the Somali coast in the vicinity of Harardheere for almost 10 months has finally been released. The pirates vacated the vessel on the evening of 11 Feb and the master has taken command once more.

On the afternoon of 10th February EU NAVFOR hosted a visit by the Luxembourg Defence Minister Jean-Marie Halsdorf, members of Parliament Marc Angel, Felix Braz, Felix Eischen and a number of other Luxembourg representatives.

On the 9 of February 2010, the Panama flagged bulk carrier M/V AL KHALIQ, with a crew of 26 (24 Indians and 2 Burmese), was released after payment of a ransom.

EU NAVFOR MPA Detachment ORION attended the farewell ceremony of the Navy Captain Satoshi ASAOKA, Commanding Officer of the Japanese Air Force counter piracy team, in Djibout on 28th of January in Camp Lemonier.

On the 4th of February EU NAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF arrived from Mombasa in front of Mogadishu with Two World Food Program vessels M/V ABDUL RAHMAN and M/V SEA DIAMOND.

Early on the morning of 5 Feb 2010, the M/V ARIELLA came under attack from Somali pirates who were able to get onboard and attempted to take control of the ship.

On 29th of January, after three weeks of patrolling in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin, EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA called in at Port VICTORIA, Republic of Seychelles for a four day visit.

On 2 February, Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, Rear-Admiral Peter Hudson, was in Brussels and briefed the press on developments regarding this counter-piracy operation.

The General Cargo vessel, M/V RIM is reported to have been hijacked this morning in the Gulf of Aden to the north of the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). M/V RIM is not registered with MSC HOA and has had no communications with UKMTO.

The hijacked M/V Asian Glory put to sea on Friday 29 January from the Somali coast and headed south to rendezvous with suspected pirate groups in the Indian Ocean. On Saturday 30 January, she headed north and eventually made a rendezvous with the hijacked Dhow Faize Osamani.

The Bulk Carrier Filitsa, hijacked in the Somali Basin on 11 November 2009, has been released after payment of a ransom.  The Marshall Island Flag Filitsa, with her crew of 22 (19 Filipino and 3 Greek) had been held at the pirate stronghold of Hobyo, on the Somali coast.