November 2014

On Tuesday 25 November the outgoing 20th Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft Contingent held a Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony with the 21st Contingent team to hand over their counter-piracy duties in the Horn of Africa.

The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Major General Martin Smith MBE, visited the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr Koji Sekimizu, at the IMO headquarters in London on Wednesday 26 November.

During the last week EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Navarra, invited local Somali leaders on board in order to help build relations between the EU Naval Force and the Somali people.

On 19 and 20 November, during her recent port visit to Dar Es Salam, EU Naval Force warship BNS Leopold I hosted members of the Tanzanian Navy in support of EUCAP Nestor’s initiative to conduct Local Maritime Capability Building (LMCB).

During their recent port visit to Djibouti, Dutch warship HNLMS van Speijk hosted a visit from the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management, or CIVCOM, which is an advisory body within the European Union dealing with crisis management.

The Council of the European Union has extended the EU's counter-piracy Operation Atalanta by two more years, until 12 December 2016.

EU Naval Force Dutch frigate, HNLMS Van Speijk, has escorted a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the Somali coast to keep it safe from a potential pirate attack.

Earlier today the Chief of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, visited the EU Naval Force Operational Headquarters in Northwood, London.

On Saturday 15 November the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, visited the Serbian maritime protection team that is currently embarked in a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel.

On Sunday 9 November the Spanish Ambassador to Oman, His Excellency Mr Juan José Urtasun, paid a visit to ESPS Navarra during her port visit to Muscat.

One of Operation Atalanta’s objectives is to develop a greater understanding of the way of life of fishermen and other seafarers who sail in the Gulf of Aden.

On Monday 10th November, the EU Naval Force Flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, and the Chinese Flagship PLANS Changbaishan met at sea in the Gulf of Aden.

On the 9th of November, EU Naval Force Warship HNLMS Van Speijk was honored by the visit of the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Lieutenant-General Rob Verkerk.

EU Naval Force warship BNS Leopold I is now halfway through her deployment as part of EU Naval Force. Over the last two months, the warship has conducted counter-piracy operations across the Area of Operations.

EU Naval Force warship BNS Leopold I carried out a friendly approach on a Kenyan fishing vessel in the Somali Basin.

Between 24 October - 6 November 2014 the Royal New Zealand Air Force contributed to the European Union’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia.

On Sunday 2 November the German Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), which is currently operating as part of the EU Naval Force, reached an impressive 4,000 flying hours milestone with Operation Atalanta.

The flagship of the EU Naval Force, ITS Andrea Doria, has completed her visit to Dubai.  The Italian Navy destroyer was in port to participate in the UAE counter-piracy week between Monday 27 and Friday 31 October.

On Sunday 2 November 2014, EU Naval Force warship, HNLMS van Speijk, came to the assistance of local seafarers, after their boat suffered severe engine problems out to sea.