May 2011

On the morning of 26 May, the MV KHALED MUHIEDDINE K which was pirated on 20 January 2011 was released from pirate control after 126 days. The crew of 22 Syrians and 3 Egyptians are all well.

FS NIVOSE completed her deployment as an EU NAVFOR warship after thirty four days proudly flying the European Flag.

On 17th May, during the simultaneous port visit in Djibouti, the Commanding Officer of the Chinese frigate MAANSHAN payed a visit to EU NAVFOR warship ESPS SANTA MARIA.

On 20 May, ESPS INFANTA ELENA, the Spanish patrol vessel finished asan EU NAVFOR warship after 84 days proudly flying the European Flag.  

 On 17th May, EU NAVFOR Portuguese warship VASCO DA GAMA, flagship for Operation ATALANTA, hosted the visit of the Portuguese Chief of Defence, General Luís Araújo.

During the morning of 13 May, the EU NAVFOR Portuguese warship NRP Vasco da Gama  successfully intercepted a Dhow which is suspected of operating as a pirate mothership.

During the afternoon of the 13 May, the EU NAVFOR French warship FS NIVÔSE disrupted a Dhow that was suspected of being used as a Pirate Action Group (PAG) mothership since it was pirated over a year ago.

On 4 May, the United Kingdom Minister of Armed Forces (Min AF), Nick Harvey MP visited the Operational Headquarters in Northwood, London.

On the 10 of May, in Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania, the EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Alberto Correia, received the visit of some of the local diplomatic authorities for a lunch onboard the flagship, EU NAVFOR Portuguese warship VASCO DA GAMA.

Commanded by Commander Panagiotopoulos, the ship and its crew are fully prepared and trained to take an active part within Operation ATALANTA and in all counter-piracy operations.

On 22 April, the EU NAVFOR French warship FS GUÉPRATTE was tasked to patrol the East coast of Somalia as part of her counter-piracy duties on Operation ATALANTA.

In November 2010, Estonia became the 26th nation to participate in EU NAVFOR when a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) embarked on the EU NAVFOR German de

ESPS CANARIAS, the Spanish frigate finished as an EU NAVFOR warship after 126 days proudly flying the European Flag.

On the 5 May, the EU NAVFOR warship ITS ESPERO assisted the Italian Merchant Vessel ITAL GLAMOUR after it was attacked by pirates on the previous day.

EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) in conjunction with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) have collaborated to develop an integrated maritime monitoring service (MARSURV) to allow EUNAVFOR to track merchant vessels in the High Risk Area off the coast of Somalia.

On 1 May, Finnish warship FNS POHJANMAA said farewell to Operation ATALANTA. The flagship of the Finnish Navy patrolled the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden for three months after integrating into the European Union Task Force.

On 28th April, FS GUÉPRATTE, the French Frigate finished her deployment as an EU NAVFOR warship after eighty two days proudly flying the European Flag.

On the 1 May, the Bulk Cargo Carrier the MV SINAR KUDUS was released from pirate control after 46 days in captivity.

On 30 April, the product tanker MV GEMINI was pirated approximately 180 NM East of Malindi, Kenya.