Press Releases

EU NAVFOR can confirm that the hijacked MV PANEGA has now arrived off the coast of Somalia and is anchored in the vicinity of Garacad.

The merchant vessels Rozen and Dream-H, sailing for UN World Food Programme with humanitarian aid to displaced persons in Somalia, are now safely delivered to Mogadishu after being escorted by EU NAVFOR Swedish flag ship HSwMS Carlskrona.

On the morning of 13 May a ransom drop was made to the pirate group holding the St James Park at anchorage at Garacaad. The St James Park had been on route to Thailand when she was hijacked by pirates on 28 December 2009.

The Liberien flagged, Greek owned, Eleni P was reported to have been hijacked 250 nautical miles off the coast of Oman on the morning of 12 May. The bulk carrier of 72,119 deadweight and crew of 26 (23 Filipinos, 2 Romanian and 1 Indian) was on route to Kandla in India when taken by pirates.

This afternoon 11th of May a Bulgaria flagged ship, MV PANEGA, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden approximately 100 nautical miles east of Aden (Yemen). The ship was on route from the Red Sea to India when she was attacked by pirates.

As part of Her Majesty the Queen’s formal opening of the new Permanent Joint Headquarters building in Northwood, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh paid a separate visit to the new EU NAVFOR Headquarters, situated within the new building.

Early this morning, Tuesday 11th May, the Bermuda flagged cargo ship MV Talca, hijacked 2 months ago, was released by pirates holding the ship.

Late on the afternoon, 6 May, a Taiwan flagged fishing vessel TAI YUAN 227, was hijacked 700 nautical miles north east of Seychelles. The ship was reported hijacked by Taipei Rescue Command Centre via IMB on the afternoon of 7 may.

Early this afternoon, 8 May, a Marshal Island flagged, German owned, Chemical tanker the MARIDA MARGUERITE, of 13000 tonnes, was hijacked 120 miles south of Salalah (Oman).

Today, 8th May, EU NAVFOR – Somalia (Operation Atalanta) took part in the European Union open day (|Journee Portes Ouvertes des institutions europeennes). Every year the EU opens its doors to the public and this year, for the first time, EU NAVFOR takes part.

This morning, 7 of May, the EU NAVFOR Swedish Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected another Pirate Action Group (PAG), in the middle of Somali Basin.

Force Commander EU NAVFOR Jan Thörnqvist and Director General Kenyan Maritime Authorities Nancy Karigithu, exchanged gifts after lunch