Press Releases

On 24 November, a joint operation between two EU NAVFOR aircraft and the EU NAVFOR warship FS SOMME enabled the disruption of seven suspected pirates.

The Seychelles Coast Guard apprehended a total of 16 suspected pirates the last five days after being cued each time by two EU NAVFOR aircraft.

On 17 November 2010, whilst sailing in the Gulf of Aden, the EU NAVFOR French Flagship FS DE GRASSE intercepted and disrupted a Pirate Action Group comprising of one skiff with seven suspected pirates onboard.

In the early hours of 14 November, EU NAVFOR warship BNS LOUISE MARIE located an overturned Yemeni fishing vessel in the Gulf of Aden, 70 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast.

On 13 November, the EU NAVFOR warship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA intercepted a whaler with four suspected pirates on board.  The whaler was located 200 nautical miles off the Somali Coast.  The SPS INFANTA CRISTINA was patrolling the area as part of the EU NAVFOR’s Operation ATALANTA.

Early this morning, the MV HANNIBAL II, a Panamanian-flagged vessel, was pirated whilst on route from Malaysia to Suez.

The South African yachtsman, who yesterday escaped capture by pirates when he refused to cooperate with their demands, was this afternoon transferred to South African authorities in Mombasa, Kenya.

A South African yachtsman, who escaped capture by pirates when he refused to cooperate with them, was safely taken on board an EU NAVFOR warship yesterday. 

During the night of November 6, the EU NAVFOR warship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA was attacked off the East coast of Somalia by a vessel identified as the MV IZUMI, a ship that had itself been pirated on 10 October.

On 6 November 2010, the Singapore-flagged MV GOLDEN BLESSING was confirmed released from under pirate control.

EU NAVFOR welcomes the first judgment yesterday in a Seychelles prosecution in connection with the interdiction of a pirate group by an EU NAVFOR warship.

On 2 and 3 November 2010, the EU NAVFOR warship SPS GALICIA, with the support of an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) located and disrupted two Pirate Action Groups comprising of 2 skiffs with 11 suspected pirates onboard.