September 2010

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.

Yesterday on 29 September, four suspected pirates were handed over to Kenyan authorities by SPS Galicia.

The Panama-flagged MV ASPHALT VENTURE is confirmed to be pirated in the Somali Basin, approximately 100 nautical miles South-East of Dar es Salaam in the Somali Basin.

On Tuesday 28 September, Force Commander, Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau met Rear-Admiral Sinan Ertugrul, Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF - Task Force 151).

On the afternoon of 28 September, MV Mississippi, en route to Dar Es Salaam was attacked by a pirate skiff. The pirates, firing automatic rifles and RPGs, attacked the vessel 45 nautical miles north east of Dar es Salaam.

On 28 September, EU NAVFOR Italian ship ITS LIBECCIO completed the escort of MV Alfa Kirawira, transporting freight for AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) from Mogadishu to Mombasa, having left Mogadishu for Mombasa on the morning of 24 September.

On Monday 27 September, EU NAVFOR welcomed the decision of the Kenya authorities to prosecute four suspected pirates, interdicted by the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship SPS GALICIA.

In the early hours of 26 September, EU NAVFOR French ship FS DE GRASSE located a whaler fitted with makeshift rigging and without a working engine, off the south-east Somali coasts.

The Panama flagged MV LUGELA, which was reported on 25 September as been pirated, 900 nautical miles east of Eyl, in the Somali Basin, had been abandoned by pirates.

On 24 September, a dhow was found in the East part of the Gulf of Aden and seemed to be drifting with the wind.

Today, 24 September 2010, the EU NAVFOR Spanish ship SPS Galicia’s boarding team approached a Kenyan dhow named “Sherry” off the eastern coast of Somalia. Suspicions were first raised when the dhow was observed towing 2 skiffs.

EU NAVFOR welcomes the second judgement, which was delivered Thursday 23 September, in a Kenyan prosecution in connection with the interdiction of a pirate group by an EU NAVFOR warship.

September 22, EU NAVFOR Spanish ship GALICIA  disrupted a pirate action group, comprised of one whaler and two skiffs.

As the effectiveness of protection measures employed within the Gulf of Aden has increased, pirates have started to operate in previously unused areas to avoid interdiction by EUNAVFOR and other Counter-Piracy forces.  Through the 2009 inter-monsoon periods it became evident that Pirate Action Group

On 21 September 2010, EU NAVFOR welcomed in its headquarters his Excellency Georg Boomgarden, German ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Lieutenant General Rainer Glatz, Commander of German Joint Commitment Staff.

On 17 September, after 124 days, the German ship FGS SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN conducted her final task as part of the EU NAVFOR Task Force.

On 17 September, while executing a patrol along the Somali coastline, the crew of EU NAVFOR ship FS DE GRASSE located and disrupted a Pirate Action Group comprising of six boats.

Today 16 September, EU NAVFOR Operational Headquarters (Northwood) welcomed a Chinese delegation to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in the area of operations.

Swedish warship HSwMS CARLSKRONA handed over EU NAVFOR Flagship duties to French destroyer FS DE GRASSE on 14 August 2010 and started a three-week maintenance period. She is now back at sea with other EU NAVFOR warships, patrolling the IRTC.

On 14 September, EU NAVFOR Force Commander Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau visited another ship of Task Force 465: German tanker FGS RHOEN.

Each year in the Horn of Africa, the number of pirate attacks decreases during the monsoon period, due to rough seas. With improving weather, the number of attacks is expected in the near future to increase and vessels will have to be increasingly vigilant.

EU NAVFOR’s operational capabilities have been reinforced on 13 September with the arrival of FGS KÖLN in the operational area. FGS KÖLN is a frigate that has been in service with the German Navy since 1984. She has a displacement of 3,700 tons and a crew of 227.

On 9 and 11 September, Force Commander Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau visited at sea EU NAVFOR Spanish amphibious ship ESP GALICIA and EU NAVFOR French frigate FS FLORÉAL.

HNLMS AMSTERDAM joined EU NAVFOR on the area of operation on 10 September. HNLMS AMSTERDAM is a Fast Combat Support Ship that has been in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy since 1995. She has a displacement of 17,040 tons and a crew of 175.

Thanks to the protection of EU NAVFOR Flagship FS DE GRASSE, both MV MILTZOW, chartered by the World Food Program (WFP), and MV ALFA KIRAWIRA, chartered by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) transited safely from Mombasa to Mogadishu this week.

MV PANEGA was hijacked on 11 May 2010, approximately 100 nautical miles east of Aden (Yemen) in the Gulf of Aden. Today, 9 September, the vessel was released from Garacad from under pirate control.

Early on the morning of 8 September, the Merchant Vessel (MV) OLIB G, flagged Malta, was pirated in the East part of the Gulf of Aden.

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

On 4 September, during its port visit in Salalah, a joint group made up of an Italian, Croatian and a Djiboutian officer from the EU NAVFOR Italian ship ITS LIBECCIO, visited Omani and Pakistani vessels in the port of Salalah (Oman).

During its port visit to Mombasa, EU NAVFOR French Flagship DE GRASSE explained once more the importance of Best Management Practices (BMP) in briefings to merchant vessel captains and crew.

As a new step in the collaboration between EU NAVFOR and Kenya, the French Flagship DE GRASSE welcomed five young Kenyan Navy officers on board for a day at sea.

On 5 September, while patrolling in the Gulf of Aden, the EU NAVFOR Spanish ship INFANTA CRISTINA was replenished at sea by the EU NAVFOR German Oil Tanker FGS RHOEN.

Sunday 6 September, the French frigate FS FLOREAL has integrated the EU NAVFOR Task Force 465, thus reinforcing EU NAVFOR presence in the area and enhancing capacity to fight against piracy.