March 2017

EU Naval Force’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, has two SH-3D Sea King helicopters on board. The helicopters have wide-ranging capabilities, including over the horizon surveillance, vertical replenishment (VERTREP), medical evacuations and crew transfers to other EU Naval Force warships.

A crew from Spain’s 11th Squadron, which is usually based in Cadiz, is currently deployed with Operation Atalanta, together with their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Scan Eagle.

The medical team on board Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, regularly conduct medical exercises at sea to ensure that they remain fully prepared to deal with medical emergencies.  With state of the art facilities on board, the team can carry out a range of medical procedures, from basic f

The EU Naval Force has been operating off the coast of Somalia since 2008 to deter pirate attacks.

On Saturday 25th March the Italian Navy Maestrale class frigate, ITS Espero, joined the EU Naval Force off the coast of Somalia.

EU Naval Force staff are currently liaising with Somali and counter-piracy partners to verify reports that a dhow has been seized by a possible pirate action group off the north-eastern coast of Somalia. EU Naval Force will issue more details once more information is known.

During the past week the EU Naval Force Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, and French frigate, FS Courbet, have conducted combined counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia.

Following the recent pirate attack on the Comoros-flagged fuel tanker, MT Aris 13, EU Naval Force warships and maritime patrol aircraft have been continuing their counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia.

Sailors from the EU Naval Force French Navy frigate, FS Courbet, have provided support and reassurance to the crew of the freed fuel tanker, Aris 13, as she sailed along the coast of Somalia.

The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Major General Rob Magowan CBE, today reiterated the need for vigilance in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean after the Comoros-flagged fuel tanker, Aris 13, was pirated and its crew held hostage for four days off the north coast of Somalia.

The EU Naval Force (Somalia) can confirm that fuel tanker Aris 13 and her crew are now en route to a safe port on the north coast of Somalia after armed pirates, who had been holding the crew since Monday 13 March 2017, departed the ship.

The EU Naval Force, which is currently operating off the coast of Somalia, has received positive confirmation from the master of the Comoros-flagged tanker, Aris 13, that his ship and crew are currently being held captive by a number of suspected armed pirates in an anchorage off the north

During European Union counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, Operation Atalanta’s Spanish Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, welcomed Rear Admiral Zhao Jicheng from the Chinese Escort Task Group on board ESPS Galicia.

Since the European Union launched the EU Naval Force in December 2008 to help deter and repress attacks by armed pirates on merchant vessels off the coast of Somalia, women have played a key role.

During their joint counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, marines from Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, and the Republic of Korea Ship (ROKS), Choi Young, carried out a range of boarding exercises on board their respective warships.

During their joint counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, the commanding officer of Republic of Korea warship, Choi Young, Kim Kyung Ryul, took the opportunity to invite Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas and his Force HQ staff on board.

On Friday 27 February 2017 marines and sailors on board Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, took time to celebrate the 480th anniversary of the Spanish Marine Corps.  The Spanish Marine Corps was founded by the King-Emperor Carlos in 1537 and is the oldest Marine Corps in the world.  Since