On December 7th 2009, EU NAVFOR Netherlands warship HNLMS Evertsen detected a sailing vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The region is considered a hotbed for piracy and is considered too dangerous for lone yachtsmen.
In order to establish the intentions of the sailor, the yacht was approached by Evertsen. The French solo sailor was on his way to Madagascar and said to be fully aware of the dangers of this area. Because his engine and auto steering gear had already broken down and he had no money left after being robbed in Aden to buy food and stores, a French officer of the EU NAVFOR staff on board Eversten strongly advised him to return to Djibouti and have second thoughts on his planned journey.
The staff officer was particularly motivated to have the sailor change his mind as he was involved in the rescue operation of the French yacht “Tanit” during which one of the captives died. The sailor finally took EU NAVFOR’s advice and turned the sailing vessel towards Djibouti.
HNLMS Evertsen takes part in the EUNAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA. The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.
In order to establish the intentions of the sailor, the yacht was approached by Evertsen. The French solo sailor was on his way to Madagascar and said to be fully aware of the dangers of this area. Because his engine and auto steering gear had already broken down and he had no money left after being robbed in Aden to buy food and stores, a French officer of the EU NAVFOR staff on board Eversten strongly advised him to return to Djibouti and have second thoughts on his planned journey.
The staff officer was particularly motivated to have the sailor change his mind as he was involved in the rescue operation of the French yacht “Tanit” during which one of the captives died. The sailor finally took EU NAVFOR’s advice and turned the sailing vessel towards Djibouti.
HNLMS Evertsen takes part in the EUNAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA. The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.