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The Deputy Commander of EU NAVFOR ATALANTA, Rear Admiral Giuseppe Rapese, Italian Navy, has handed over his responsibilities after a successful six-month tour of duty to Rear Admiral Marc Aussedat of the French Navy on 31st January 2019.

The Spanish ship ESPS Relámpago welcomed the Somaliland Coast Guard (SLCG) and representatives from the Somali Ministry of Interior (MOI) on board the ship in the Gulf of Aden. They were accompanied by personnel from EUCAP Somalia, the European Capability Mission.

To help strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU Naval Force and local seafarers, as well as obtain first-hand information about possible piracy incidents in the Western Indian Ocean, EU Naval Force ships will make ‘Friendly Approaches’ to local vessels and speak to the crew.

With over 10 years of ongoing counter-piracy operations in the Western Indian Ocean, the free-flow of international maritime trade has much improved, but it remains vital that this effort continues. Working with other maritime security partners becomes vital to continue this success.

Partnerships and cooperation are important more now than ever in maritime security operations. Working alongside our regional partners increases capability and reach as we continue to deter, disrupt and repress piracy.

Relations with partners are important for counter-piracy operations. Meetings and exercises increase understanding between maritime forces operating in the Gulf of Aden and around the Horn of Africa.

EU NAVFOR relies on parterships to conduct business and they have been key to its successes over the last ten years.

Friendly Approaches have helped to build mutual trust and understanding between counter-piracy naval forces and the local Somali community over the last 10 years.

For the first time since counter-piracy deployments began in 2008, the Indian Navy has performed the escort of vital humanitarian aid for the UN’s World Food Programme, following an escort request by EU NAVFOR.

Partnerships and cooperation are vital for the success of maritime security operations. Working alongside our Japanese partners increases capability and reach as we continue to deter, disrupt and repress piracy.

10 years of Operation Atalanta’s counter-piracy efforts have seen a continual presence of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) deployed to Djibouti, Mombasa (Kenya) and Victoria (Seychelles). The MPRAs have been provided by France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain.

EU NAVFOR warships have patrolled the waters off the coast of Somalia for over ten years now. The worst of the Somali piracy crisis in 2011 has been successfully repressed, but the need for ongoing patrols in the western Indian Ocean remains.