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During a recent port visit to Salalah, Oman, naval officers from EU Naval Forec Italian frigate, ITS Espero, took the opportunity and visited a cruise ship and two merchant ships, TG Aphrodite and Darya Mahesh, which were also berthed alongside, to talk about the recent pirate incidents in the Gulf

During their counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, crews from Operation Atalanta warships ensure that they remain at the top of their game with regular training exercises on the upper deck.

On Monday 10 April 2017 Operation Atalanta’s force commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, visited the Tanzania People’s Defence Force chief of staff, Lieutenant General James Mwakibolwa, during a port visit to Dar Es Salaam.

On Sunday 9 April 2017 Operation Atalanta’s flagship, ESPS Galicia, hosted seven European ambassadors to Tanzania during a port visit to Dar Es Salaam.

EU Naval Force confirms that cargo ship, MV OS-35, that was attacked by suspected armed pirates on Saturday 8 April, is safe and en route to port after successful cooperation between international counter-piracy naval forces in the Gulf of Aden.

EU Naval Force is working with counter-piracy partners to investigate reports of a possible piracy incident involving a cargo vessel on Saturday 8 April in the Gulf of the Aden. Further information will be provided by the EU Naval Force once facts about the incident are confirmed.

On Wednesday 5 April Operation Atalanta’s Italian frigate, ITS Espero, visited fuel tanker, MT Aris 13, to provide reassurance to the crew following their release from pirate hands after a three-day ordeal.

The Spanish Orion Air Contingent XXVII, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Arozamena Sanz, has completed a successful four month tour with Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia.

Following the pirating of an Indian registered cargo dhow off the coast of Somalia on Saturday 1 April 2017, EU NAVFOR once again reiterates the need for vigilance to all ships transiting the piracy high risk area.

EU Naval Force can confirm that an Indian registered cargo dhow was seized by suspected pirates on 01 April  and is now in the vicinity of Hobyo, Somalia.

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

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.