Press Releases

Yesterday evening, Operation ATALANTA handed over the 6 alleged pirates to Seychelles under the framework of the legal agreement that European Union has with Seychelles.

Rota, 12 May 2024 – The development of the event involving the Marshall Islands-flagged Merchant Vessel CHRYSTAL ARCTIC has been as follows.

Rota, 10 May 2024 – Operation ATALANTA confirms the suspicious approach to the Marshall Islands-flagged Merchant Vessel CHRYSTAL ARCTIC at 100 NM North of Bosaso (Somalia), with an exchange of fire between the security team of the Mer

Somali Prime Minister and senior government officials, the European Union Ambassador to Somalia and Operation ATALANTA Force Commander were present during the exercise. 

Rota, 15 April 2024 – Operation ATALANTA confirms the release of the 23 crew members of the Merchant Vessel ABDULLAH and the ship.

Rota, 22 March 2024 – From 16 to 18 the EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA Commander Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano paid a visit to Djibouti to meet with relevant national authorities and international representatives.  The two main miles

Rota, 14 March 2024 – Operation ATALANTA continues monitoring the piracy event involving the Bangladesh-flagged Bulk carrier merchant vessel ABDULLAH.

Rota, 13 March 2024 – Operation ATALANTA confirms the piracy event involving the Bangladesh-flagged Bulk carrier merchant vessel ABDULLAH. Operation ATALANTA has been the first actor to respond. Currently one ATALANTA ship is shadowing the pirate vessel.

The new Force rotation is commanded by an Italian Admiral, Rear Admiral Francesco Saladino, and the Italian ship, ITS Martinengo is the new flagship of the Operation.

The three-day visit enabled the Operation Commander to hold talks with key players in the Somali Federal Government linked to the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, the European fam

Rear Admiral Éric Dousson (France) took over as Deputy Commander of Operation Atalanta from Rear Admiral Giovanni M. Galoforo (Italy), who held the deputy command for the past six months.

Rota, 19 December 2023 - The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) continues monitoring closely the situation of the hijack of the Maltese-flagged merchant vessel RUEN in close cooperation with Somali local authorities.