May 2010

On Sunday 30 May 2010, the EU NAVFOR vessel FS GUEPRATTE arrived in the Omani port of Marbat having towed the Yemeni Dhow, Mahara for two days.  The FS GUEPRATTE came to the aid of the Mahara on Friday 28 May 2010 after receiving a report from an Australian aircraft.

On Saturday evening, 29 of May, the Seychelles Coast Guard disrupted a Pirate Action Group, including a mother ship with 9 suspected pirates on board and two fast attack skiffs, after being led to the target by an EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft from the Swedish Coast Guard.

After two months of excellent performance in EU NAVFOR the Spanish Ocean Patrol Vessel (OPV) ESPS Vencedora returns to home base.

Yesterday evening EU NAVFOR warship FS Guepratte stopped to assist Yemenite fisher men in distress. Now she has been towing the Yemenite fishing vessel all night and awaits relief from Omani authorities.

A helicopter from the EU NAVFOR warship FS Nivôse was launched against a pirate skiff leading to the disruption of a pirate attack against the merchant vessel Nordneptun off Zanzibar, Tanzania on the morning of 25 May.

EU NAVFOR HNLMS Johan de Witt has effectively blocked known pirate camp on the Somali coast from access to the open sea.

"Piracy is one of the big challenges of our times, both for the region and for the international community.” That is the words of the European Union representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

The EU NAVFOR French warship, FS Nivôse, came under small arms fire on 20 May from the coast in the port of Mogadishu, as the warship provided safe conduct to MV Alpha Kirawira and Petra 1.

EU NAVFOR can confirm that the hijacked Liberian flagged ELENI P has now arrived off the coast of Somalia and is anchored in the vicinity of Garacad.

EU NAVFOR can confirm that the hijacked MV PANEGA has now arrived off the coast of Somalia and is anchored in the vicinity of Garacad.

“We have made progress in the new EU NAVFOR tactics, stopping suspected pirates closer to shore, before they get out in the high seas and do outrages” said Rear Admiral (LH) Jan Thörnqvist, summing up his first month as Force Commander of EU NAVFOR.

The merchant vessels Rozen and Dream-H, sailing for UN World Food Programme with humanitarian aid to displaced persons in Somalia, are now safely delivered to Mogadishu after being escorted by EU NAVFOR Swedish flag ship HSwMS Carlskrona.

On the morning of 13 May a ransom drop was made to the pirate group holding the St James Park at anchorage at Garacaad. The St James Park had been on route to Thailand when she was hijacked by pirates on 28 December 2009.

The Liberien flagged, Greek owned, Eleni P was reported to have been hijacked 250 nautical miles off the coast of Oman on the morning of 12 May. The bulk carrier of 72,119 deadweight and crew of 26 (23 Filipinos, 2 Romanian and 1 Indian) was on route to Kandla in India when taken by pirates.

This afternoon 11th of May a Bulgaria flagged ship, MV PANEGA, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden approximately 100 nautical miles east of Aden (Yemen). The ship was on route from the Red Sea to India when she was attacked by pirates.

As part of Her Majesty the Queen’s formal opening of the new Permanent Joint Headquarters building in Northwood, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh paid a separate visit to the new EU NAVFOR Headquarters, situated within the new building.

Early this morning, Tuesday 11th May, the Bermuda flagged cargo ship MV Talca, hijacked 2 months ago, was released by pirates holding the ship.

Late on the afternoon, 6 May, a Taiwan flagged fishing vessel TAI YUAN 227, was hijacked 700 nautical miles north east of Seychelles. The ship was reported hijacked by Taipei Rescue Command Centre via IMB on the afternoon of 7 may.

Early this afternoon, 8 May, a Marshal Island flagged, German owned, Chemical tanker the MARIDA MARGUERITE, of 13000 tonnes, was hijacked 120 miles south of Salalah (Oman).

Today, 8th May, EU NAVFOR – Somalia (Operation Atalanta) took part in the European Union open day (|Journee Portes Ouvertes des institutions europeennes). Every year the EU opens its doors to the public and this year, for the first time, EU NAVFOR takes part.

This morning, 7 of May, the EU NAVFOR Swedish Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected another Pirate Action Group (PAG), in the middle of Somali Basin.

Force Commander EU NAVFOR Jan Thörnqvist and Director General Kenyan Maritime Authorities Nancy Karigithu, exchanged gifts after lunch

His majesty the king of Sweden visited EU NAVFOR Flag ship HSwMS Carlskrona during her port visit in Mombasa 3-5 may. As a navy trained officer, he showed great interest in EU NAVFOR’s work around the Horn of Africa.

The Liberian hijacked tanker Moscow University, which was hijacked yesterday, has been dramatically freed by the Russian warship, the MARSHAL SHAPOSHNIKOV.

This morning, 5 of May, the EU NAVFOR Swedish Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected a Pirate Action Group (PAG) approximately 400 Nautical Miles North West of Seychelles.

This morning, 5 May, the south Korean Flagged vessel MV OCEAN TRADER came under attack from Somali pirates approximately 200 Nautical Miles North West of Comoros islands.

On the morning of 5 May, the Liberia flagged (Russian operated) Oil Tanker MOSCOW UNIVERSITY, was hijacked approximately 350 nautical miles east of Socatra.

This morning 4 May, a Super Auk 12 helicopter from the Japanese Task Force reported a suspicious skiff with seven persons on board just outside the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) approximately 50 miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen.

Following hot on the heels of EU NAVFOR French ship Tonnerre's success, who earlier today (1st May) tracked down and destroed a mother ship, EU NAVFOR FS La Fayette destroyed another Mother ship and held another 9 suspected pirates for questioning.

EU NAVFOR warship FS Tonnerre located and boarded two pirate ships early this morning, 1st May, 450 nautical miles east of Somalia. Evidence was secured, weapons and a ladder, and 11 suspected pirates were taken on board the Tonnerre.