May 2017

EU NAVFOR can confirm that earlier today, 31 May 2017, a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker was approached and fired upon by three men in a skiff in the southern Bab-el-Mandeb (BAM) Strait.

The Italian Navy’s Maestrale-class frigate, ITS Espero, has been deployed off the coast of Somalia as part of EU NAVFOR’s counter-piracy operations since 25 March 2017.

A Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachment has been deployed to Djibouti from its military air base in Spain since December 2008 as part of Spain’s contribution to the European Union’s efforts to deter and disrupt acts of piracy against merchant ships and seafarers.

Between 19 - 22 May 2017 EU Naval Force Flagship, ESPS Galicia, paid a visit to Antisiranana to strengthen the strong bond that exists between the EU Naval Force and the people of Madagascar.

During ESPS Galicia’s port visit to Madagascar, Operation Atalanta’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, visited key government and military officials in Antisaranana.

The EU NAVFOR Montenegrin maritime protection team that is currently aboard the World Food Programme vessel, MV Esbjerg, has been busy this week carrying out training at sea to ensure that they remain fully prepared to deal with any incident.

This month staff from the EU NAVFOR operational HQ visited the Seychelles to deliver a Seychelles ‘Justice Pathway’ joint exercise.

As she sailed home through the waters of the Gulf of Aden from her 27,895 nautical-mile deployment from Italy to South East Asia and Australia, Italian Navy warship, ITS Carabiniere, took time to contribute to EU NAVFOR’s counter-piracy patrols along the Somali coastline.

Over the weekend Spanish Marines on board ESPS Galicia carried out extensive training on board as the crew and embarked battle staff maintain their vigilance in deterring piracy off the coast of Somalia.

During their recent port visit to the Seychelles, EU NAVFOR warship, ITS Espero, took the opportunity to carry out training with teams from the Seychelles Air Force and Marine Police Unit.

Spanish warship, ESPS Galicia, is currently operating off the coast of Somalia as part of the European Union’s efforts to deter piracy, protect World Food Programme vessels and to provide reassurance to merchant vessels as they transit the key trade routes of the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deliv

During their counter-piracy aerial patrols along the coast of Somalia the aircrew from EU NAVFOR’s Spanish Air Force Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) took the opportunity to overfly and make radio contact with their fellow countrymen aboard EU NAVFOR’s flagship, ESPS Galicia.

During their European Union counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Hobyo, the commanding officer of EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, took the opportunity to welcome on board Galmadug’s State Minister of Home Affairs, Omar Mohamed Diriye.

On Saturday 13 May 2017, EU Naval Force’s Italian warship, ITS Espero, welcomed representatives from the Bossaso Port Police (BPP) on board whilst at sea conducting counter-piracy operations.

A highly trained EU NAVFOR maritime protection team from the Montenegrin armed forces has embarked the World Food Programme vessel, MV Esbjerg, for a three-month deployment.

ESPS Galicia is currently deployed in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean as part of Spain’s contribution to the European Union’s efforts to deter and disrupt pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia.

Earlier this month the Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Major General Rob Magowan CBE, paid a visit to the Spanish and German Maritime Patrol Aircraft Detachments, based in Djibouti.

During their recent port visit in Djibouti, EU Naval Force warship, ITS Espero, conducted maritime training with a team from the Djiboutian Navy.

Following their successful hosting of the Somali Prime Minister and the EU Ambassador to Somalia on Monday, sailors and marines from EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, have been assisting staff from EUCAP Somalia, to train members of the Somali maritime police unit together with the AMISOM’

After attending the successful EU Day event in Mogadishu on Tuesday 9 May, EU NAVFOR’s Operation Commander, Major General Rob Magowan CBE, took the opportunity to fly to Djibouti to meet the Operation Atalanta teams that are based there.

EU NAVFOR’s Operation Commander, Major General Rob Magowan CBE, was welcomed aboard EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, by the operation’s Force Commander afloat, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas.

The 40th Shared Awareness and De-Confliction (SHADE) conference took place in Bahrain between 25 – 26 April, with military and shipping industry representatives from 33 countries and 14 international organisations taking part in a range of discussions and forums.

Earlier today EU NAVFOR’s Operation Commander, Major general Rob Magowan CBE, and Force Commander, Rear Admiral Fernandez-Pintado Munoz-Rojas, joined the EU Ambassador to Somalia, Veronique Lorenzo and EU mission heads at the international camp in Mogadishu’s international airport for a reception to

On Monday 8 May 2017 the European Union’s Ambassador to Somalia, Ms Veronique Lorenzo, hosted the Somali Prime Minister, H.E. Hasan Ali Khaire and State Minister, Abdullahi Hamud, on board EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia.

On 30 April 2017 EU Naval Force warship, ITS Espero, invited a delegation from the Bossaso Port Police and Puntland Maritime Police Force on board during EU counter-piracy patrols close to the port of Bossaso.

A Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) officer has been deployed on board the EU NAVFOR flagship since the operation was launched in December 2008, providing vital help and advice to masters of merchant vessels as they transit the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

During their port visit to Salalah naval officers from the EU Naval Force Italian warship, ITS Espero, took the opportunity to meet masters of merchant vessels that were also alongside in the port.