April 2017

On Friday 28 April, the EU NAVFOR Force Commander conducted a courtesy call with the Chief of Defence Forces Seychelles, Brigadier Leopold Payet.

On Friday 21 April during their patrols at sea, Italian Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) divers, who are currently deployed on board Italian Navy frigate ITS Espero, carried out mine-countermeasures training.

During ESPS Galicia's recent port visit to Dar Es Salaam, members of her ship's company went on board two merchant ships, MV ARCADIA and MV KOTA GAYA, which were also alongside the busy port, to speak to the crews about the recent piracy incidents.

Maalintii sabtida ahayd ee waqtigii qorax dhaca ahayd ayaa European Union counter-piracy oo ilaalinayey xeebta somaliya dhinaca bari,EU NAVFOR`s markabka calanka isbeyn, ESPS Galicia,waxay taleefan degdeg ah(SOS) ka heleen kabtanka markabka Costina .

Late on Saturday evening during a European Union counter-piracy patrol close to the east coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, received a SOS distress call from the master of merchant ship, MT Costina, to say that his vessel was being attacked by a number of armed pirates in

Earlier this month USNS Kanawha replenished ESPS Galicia of EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta at sea (RAS).

On the 19th April 2017, EU NAVFOR warship ITS Espero, conducted maritime training with a team from Bossaso Port Police. The training included theoretical briefings followed by practical demonstration.

EU NAVFOR has operated in the Southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and a large part of the Indian Ocean since 2008.

EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) have been based in Djibouti and an essential part of Operation Atalanta since 2009, they provide an unbroken expertise assisting and co-ordinating other MPRA contributors based both in Djibouti and the Seychelles.

Operation Atalanta warships regularly conduct training with local maritime forces to strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding in the fight against piracy and other maritime crime in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

After departing the port of Salalah following her port visit to Oman, EU Naval Force warship, ITS Espero, took the opportunity to carry out naval manoeuvres with the Royal Oman Navy warship, RON Al-Shamikh.

During a recent port visit to Salalah, Oman, naval officers from EU Naval Forec Italian frigate, ITS Espero, took the opportunity and visited a cruise ship and two merchant ships, TG Aphrodite and Darya Mahesh, which were also berthed alongside, to talk about the recent pirate incidents in the Gulf

During their counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, crews from Operation Atalanta warships ensure that they remain at the top of their game with regular training exercises on the upper deck.

On Monday 10 April 2017 Operation Atalanta’s force commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, visited the Tanzania People’s Defence Force chief of staff, Lieutenant General James Mwakibolwa, during a port visit to Dar Es Salaam.

On Sunday 9 April 2017 Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, hosted seven European ambassadors to Tanzania during a port visit to Dar Es Salaam.

EU Naval Force confirms that cargo ship, MV OS-35, that was attacked by suspected armed pirates on Saturday 8 April, is safe and en route to port after successful cooperation between international counter-piracy naval forces in the Gulf of Aden.

EU Naval Force is working with counter-piracy partners to investigate reports of a possible piracy incident involving a cargo vessel on Saturday 8 April in the Gulf of the Aden. Further information will be provided by the EU Naval Force once facts about the incident are confirmed.

Doon xamuul ah oo ka rajiirtarsan indiya ayaa laga,afduubay xeebta somaliya maalintii Sabtida 1 April 2017, EU NAVFOR: marlabaad waxay leedahay maraakiibta oo dhan waa inay sifiican u Foojignaadaan. Maraaakiibta waxa si,xoogan lugulatalinayaa in isdifaacaan.

On Wednesday 5 April Operation Atalanta’s Italian frigate, ITS Espero, visited fuel tanker, MT Aris 13, to provide reassurance to the crew following their release from pirate hands after a three-day ordeal.

The Spanish Orion Air Contingent XXVII, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Arozamena Sanz, has completed a successful four month tour with Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia.

Following the pirating of an Indian registered cargo dhow off the coast of Somalia on Saturday 1 April 2017, EU NAVFOR once again reiterates the need for vigilance to all ships transiting the piracy high risk area.

EU Naval Force can confirm that an Indian registered cargo dhow was seized by suspected pirates on 01 April  and is now in the vicinity of Hobyo, Somalia.

During their recent port visit in Djibouti, EU Naval Force warship, ITS Espero, conducted  maritime training with a team from the Djiboutian Navy.