June 2010

 In the early hours of 28 June, pirates took control of the MV Golden Blessing approximately 90 nautical miles off the northern Somali coast.

“EU NAVFOR’s new tactic has been successful, we are disrupting more suspected pirates near the coast, before they put on the high seas and conduct hijackings.

 EU NAVFOR ship HNLMS JOHAN DE WITT conducted a training package for 50 members of the Yemeni Coast Guard.  The training programme was a combination of classroom theory and practical exercises.

Today’s boarding of a suspected pirate skiff once again showed that the proactive tactics of the European Unions Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) are having increased success.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, congratulated Major General Buster Howes (UK) on taking office today as the new EU Operation Commander of Operation EUNAVFOR-ATALANTA.

On 14 June 2010, Rear Admiral Hudson Peter Hudson CBE handed over the responsibility of Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Op ATALANTA to Major General Buster Howes OBE.

On 11 June 2010, a ransom drop was made to the pirate group holding the merchant vessel MV ASIAN GLORY at anchor in the vicinity of Garacad on the eastern coast of Somalia.

The French Frigate NIVÔSE has completed a four month deployment as part of the EU NAVFOR Somalia Task Force.

This afternoon, the crew of MV RIM abandoned the ship on the request of the master. EU NAVFOR warship Johan de Witt was close to the position and engaged in the rescue. The crew of MV RIM are now on board Johan de Witt and will be transferred to a safe port.

Today at 1010 local time, the hijacked Libyan owned merchant vessel RIM reported that the crew had successfully retaken control of the ship.  One of the crew members was seriously injured during the incident.

In the early hours of 2 June it was reported by the owner of the MV QSM Dubai that a group of armed pirates had boarded the ship and taken control. USS COLE from CTF 508 (NATO) first reported that they had seen a person with an RPG on board.

The EU NAVFOR Force Commander hosted the Force Commander of Task Force 151, the Combined Maritime Force off Somalia, on board the EU NAVFOR Flag Ship HSwMS Carlskrona on Monday 31 May 2010.  The Force Commanders expressed content with the very good level of co-operation between the two force