Press Releases

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.

The MV ALY ZOULFECAR, a Comorian-flagged vessel, was pirated on route between the Comores and Dar Es Salam (Tanzania).

The pirated Panama-flagged MV POLAR has now arrived off the coast of Somalia and is anchored in the vicinity of Hobyo.

On 26 October 2010, late afternoon, the French-flagged Liquefied Petroleum Gas Carrier (LPGC) MAIDO was reported under attack from one skiff approximately 100 nautical miles south east from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. 

On the morning of 24 October, the MV YORK, a Singapore-flagged tanker, was confirmed pirated in the Somali Basin.

In the early hours of 20 October, while conducting a patrol along the Somali coastline, the EU NAVFOR French Flagship FS DE GRASSE spotted and intercepted a pirate action group comprising of two skiffs and one whaler, thereby averting a future attack.

Yesterday, 17 October, the Panama-flagged MV VOC DAISY was released from Garacad from under pirate control.

On the afternoon of 10 October, the owners of the Panama-flagged MV IZUMI reported that they had received an automatically released distress signal indicating that the vessel was likely to be under pirate attack.

The Taiwanese fishing vessel FENG GUO that had been reported by her owner as being pirated on 7 October 2010 is confirmed to be free from pirates this afternoon. The false report had been sent after the owner having been without contact with the ship for two days.

On 8 October 2010, the Taiwanese fishing vessel FENG GUO was confirmed pirated 250 nautical miles from Antisiranana, Madagascar. This is the most southerly vessel to be pirated since the operation began.

On Thursday 30 September, EU NAVFOR and NATO welcomed a delegation from the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) in Northwood’s headquarters (United Kingdom).

EU NAVFOR welcomes the third judgment, which was delivered on 29 September, in a Kenyan prosecution in connection with the interdiction of a pirate group by an EU NAVFOR warship.