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EU NAVFOR’s operational capabilities have been reinforced today with the arrival of the Belgium frigate BNS LOUISE-MARIE in the operational area.

On 19 October 2010, EU NAVFOR welcomed a delegation of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to its Operational Headquarters (Northwood – UK) in order to provide them with a better understanding of the piracy threat in the Gulf of Aden and in the Somali Basin.

Yesterday, 17 October 2010, the EU NAVFOR Dutch warship HNLMS AMSTERDAM successfully achieved the escort of the MV CAPTAIN SAÏD, chartered by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

During the third port visit of the EU NAVFOR French Flagship FS DE GRASSE to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, seized the opportunity to meet with national authorities and regional partners.

This morning, EU NAVFOR received the confirmation that the South-Korean fishing vessel GOLDEN WAVE (formerly named KEUMMI 305) has been pirated off the Kenyan coast on Saturday 9 October 2010.

  This week, EU NAVFOR provided her support during a training course on Maritime Law Enforcement on counter-piracy organized by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in Djibouti for representatives of “Djibouti Code of Conduct” States.

On 14 October 2010, EU NAVFOR Operational Headquarters (Northwood, UK) welcomed maritime industry representatives to provide them with an update on the current piracy threat in the Horn of Africa.

Over a period of 15 days, successful piracy of three merchant vessels has been prevented through their use of Best Management Practices, proving the value of such self-protection measures.

On 10 October 2010, the crew of the EU NAVFOR Italian ship ITS LIBECCIO, visited the "Bee Hive Children's orphanage" during its port visit in Mombasa harbour (Kenya).

On 6 October, the EU NAVFOR Dutch support ship HNLMS AMSTERDAM gave assistance to a drifting vessel with 26 crewmembers on board.

On Monday 4 October, EU NAVFOR's Deputy Commander, Rear-Admiral Thomas Ernst, visited the World Food Programme (WFP) Headquarters in Rome, Italy, to discuss possible ways for EU NAVFOR to improve the assistance it provides to WFP vessels.

On the evening of October 3, the EU NAVFOR German frigate FGS KOELN disrupted a suspected pirate skiff which was involved in the chase of a merchant vessel, in the Gulf of Aden.