July 2010

Early this morning, 29 July, the Maltese flagged merchant vessel MV FRIGIA was released.

On 26 July, the Russian destroyer ADMIRAL LEVCHENKO began escorting a World Food Programme (WFP) shipment, in support of EU NAVFOR. Force Commander Jan Thörnqvist said:  “This is a clear demonstration of the excellent co-operation between our European Task Force 465 and the Russian Navy”.

As part of EU NAVFOR's more offensive tactics some units are now and then tasked to operate close to the Somali shore. Recently the Flag ship HSwHMS CARLSKRONA was given this task.

On 22 July, Rear Admiral Jan Thörnqvist, Force Commander EU NAVFOR, hosted General Thierry Caspar-Fille-Lambie, Commander of the French Forces in Djibouti on board the flagship HSwMS CARLSKRONA.  The main topic of the meeting was how to better support regional countries in their efforts to counter p

On 25 July, the French frigate GUÉPRATTE conducted her last day of operations as part of the EU NAVFOR Task Force and is now heading home to Toulon.

The French air defence destroyer JEAN BART has joined the EU NAVFOR Task Force for the period 20th to 31st July.  She is the second of the air defence destroyer class Cassard, with a displacement of 4500 tonnes, a length of 139 meters and a beam of 14 meters.

Today, 20 July, the fishing vessel SAKOBA was released. SAKOBA, a Kenyan flagged fishing vessel was hijacked on 03 March 2010 400 NM east of Dar Es Salam.

Today, 20 July, the hijacked merchant vessel UBT Ocean was released.

 A delegation from EU NAVFOR Force Headquarters made a successful visit to the Chief of the Yemeni Coast Guard and Deputy Commander of the Yemeni Navy.

     

In the early hours of 4 July, the MT Motivator reported it was under small arms fire from a pirate attack in the northern Bab Al Mandeb area in the southern Red Sea. After notification of this attack, attempts were made to make contact with the Motivator but to no avail.

 After two and a half months of intense duty in EU NAVFOR the Royal Netherlands Ship JOHAN DE WITT sails back to her home harbour Den Helder. On passing Malta she will disembark her excellent Maltese Vessel Protection Detachment.