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In the early hours of 4 July, the MT Motivator reported it was under small arms fire from a pirate attack in the northern Bab Al Mandeb area in the southern Red Sea. After notification of this attack, attempts were made to make contact with the Motivator but to no avail.

 After two and a half months of intense duty in EU NAVFOR the Royal Netherlands Ship JOHAN DE WITT sails back to her home harbour Den Helder. On passing Malta she will disembark her excellent Maltese Vessel Protection Detachment.

 In the early hours of 28 June, pirates took control of the MV Golden Blessing approximately 90 nautical miles off the northern Somali coast.

“EU NAVFOR’s new tactic has been successful, we are disrupting more suspected pirates near the coast, before they put on the high seas and conduct hijackings.

 EU NAVFOR ship HNLMS JOHAN DE WITT conducted a training package for 50 members of the Yemeni Coast Guard.  The training programme was a combination of classroom theory and practical exercises.

Today’s boarding of a suspected pirate skiff once again showed that the proactive tactics of the European Unions Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) are having increased success.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, congratulated Major General Buster Howes (UK) on taking office today as the new EU Operation Commander of Operation EUNAVFOR-ATALANTA.

On 14 June 2010, Rear Admiral Hudson Peter Hudson CBE handed over the responsibility of Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Op ATALANTA to Major General Buster Howes OBE.

On 11 June 2010, a ransom drop was made to the pirate group holding the merchant vessel MV ASIAN GLORY at anchor in the vicinity of Garacad on the eastern coast of Somalia.

The French Frigate NIVÔSE has completed a four month deployment as part of the EU NAVFOR Somalia Task Force.

This afternoon, the crew of MV RIM abandoned the ship on the request of the master. EU NAVFOR warship Johan de Witt was close to the position and engaged in the rescue. The crew of MV RIM are now on board Johan de Witt and will be transferred to a safe port.