November 2010

On 6 November 2010, the Marshall Islands-flagged MV SAMHO DREAM was released from under pirate control.

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

On 2 and 3 November 2010, EU NAVFOR met with other representatives from the ”Working Group 2 on Legal Issues” of the International Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), in Copenhagen.

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.

The good weather of the inter-monsoon period and the good sailing conditions enable pirates to reach open seas where they can easily find vulnerable merchant vessels.

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.

In late October, the EU NAVFOR Flagship conducted a port visit to the Seychelles. Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, met with Mr. Joel Morgan, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources and Transport of the Republic of Seychelles.