March 2016

Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jan Kaack, has visited the Spanish MPRA (Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft) Detachment deployed at the French Air Base in Djibouti.

During a rendezvous with World Food Programme ship MSM Douro, Operation Atalanta's Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jan Kaack, took the opportunity to address the embarked Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD).

On 22 March, the XXIV Spanish Air Force contingent handed over maritime patrol and reconnaissance duties to the incoming XXV Detachment. The new crew will continue to operate the P-3 aircraft.

For the handover of Operation Atalanta's counter-piracy Force Command from Rear Admiral Barbieri to Rear Admiral Jan C. Kaack, the German State Secretary, Markus Grübel, paid a visit to Djibouti.

On Wednesday 23 March Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri (Italian Navy) handed over Force Command of the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta to Rear Admiral Jan Kaack (German Navy).

Last week the Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) Detachment held a medal ceremony in Djibouti.

Earlier this week an Italian C-130J Hercules aircraft based in Pisa was tasked by the European Air Transport Command (EATC) to fly to Djibouti to deliver a spare engine for Operation Atalanta’s Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) Detachment that

Dhammadkii sannadkii 2015 ta markabka hay’ada cuntada ee qaramada midowbay ee FAO MV Kestrel, ayuu markabka Hawlgalka Atalanta ka difaacay weerarada burcad badeedka.

At the end of 2015, Operation Atalanta protected a UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO) vessel, MV Kestrel, from potential pirate attack as it deployed twenty five Fishing Aggregation Devices (FADs) off the coast of Somalia.

On 11 March, Op Atalanta’s Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) capability was doubled with the arrival of the German P-3C aircraft in Djibouti. The German team join the Spanish P-3 Detachment already in situ.

Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri, has paid a visit to German warship, FGS Erfurt, as he prepares to hand over his command of the Atalanta Force HQ to Rear Admiral Kaack from the German Navy on Wednesday 23 March.

On Friday 11 March 2016 the Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), which is currently deployed off the coast of Somalia, landed at its base in Djibouti after completing another flying mission along Somalia’s coastline.

Markab dagaalka Hawlgalka Atalanta ee FGS Erfurt ayaa u gudbiyay tababar khaas ah arday ka tirsan ciidamada ilaalada xeebaha ee Somaliland.

In cooperation with EUCap Nestor, Operation Atalanta warship FGS Erfurt has provided specialist training to Somaliland Coast Guard students.

On 27 February, Operation Atalanta and Chinese warships conducted joint training in the Indian Ocean. The training included air operations with the ships' embarked helicopters.

During her port visit to Dar es Salaam, Operation Atalanta flagship ITS Carabiniere, was presented with an UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO) award for the protection she provided to an UNFAO vessel as it deployed Fishing Aggregation Devices (FADs).