Tag: EUNAVFOR

Counter-Piracy Big Three Meet At Sea

Capsized Ferry off Zanzibar On 18 July the ferry MV Skagit was reported to be sinking off Chumbe island. The EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) immediately redirected a Luxembourg Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), which was conducting counter-piracy patrols closest to the location of the sinking ferry, to Dar es Salaam. From there it conducted several sorties in support of the rescue efforts.Using the aircraft's capabilities, rescue efforts were coordinated, life rafts spotted and their location tracked. With this support, Tanzanian and other vessels taking part in the rescue mission were guided to the life rafts exact locations, aiding the rescue of reportedly 145 of the ferry's passengers.The ferry was traveling from the capital city of Dar es Salaam, on mainland Tanzania on Wednesday. EU NAVFOR cannot confirm the numbers, but reportedly 290 people were on board. While the search still continues, bad weather hampers the rescue.Source: EUNAVFOR

EU Naval Force German Frigate Bremen Liaises with Kenyan Piracy Information-Sharing Center

EU Naval Force Has New Deputy Operation Commander

EU Naval Force Italian ship ITS Scirocco rescues tug in Gulf of Aden

NATO Senior Officials Discuss Challenges of Anti-Piracy Mission (Gulf of Aden)

Capability to track ship movements On Wednesday 23 June His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, attended the opening of the new Djiboutian Naval Operations Centre.Djiboutian military and civilian authorities were present, along with representatives from the USA and France, who provided support to Djibouti for the building and fitting of the operations centre. The centre provides the Djiboutian maritime forces with an enhanced capability to track ship movements in their territorial waters.EU NAVFOR ships will be conducting exercises in the coming weeks with the Djiboutian Navy and Coast Guard and very much welcomes the opening of new operational centre as it is seen as another step in contributing to the fight against piracy and maritime capacity building in the regionSource: EUNAVFOR

On June 12th, EU Naval Force rescued a small fishing boat on the northern coast of Somalia In the afternoon of June 12th, EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Italian frigate Scirocco rescued a small fishing boat (skiff type) in distress with two Somali fishermen coming from the town of Alula, on the northern coast of Somalia, in the Bari region, who reported to be adrift since June 7th following an engine failure.ITS Scirocco was conducting a patrolling mission in the Gulf of Aden about 20 miles from the northern coast of Somalia, when the small boat was spotted with the two crew members trying to capture the ship's attention.After providing food, beverages and medical assistance, ITS Scirocco provided technical assistance in an effort to repair the engine. As the failure could not be repaired at sea, the skiff was towed by Scirocco's jet boat towards the Somali coast in vicinity of Alula, ensuring the safe transfer of the two fishermen.Source: EUNAVFOR

During port visit, crew shared experiences in the fight against piracy EU Naval Force Warship FS Nivôse welcomed ten Djiboutian coast guards on 16 May for training and discussion on skiff interception, vessel protection teams and online communication.During a port visit in Djibouti, the crew ofNivôse and members of the Djiboutian coast guard shared their experiences in the fight against piracy, and more broadly on the coast guards' role in the protection of Djiboutian waters.The sailors of FS Nivôse presented their skiff interception procedures, the implementation of a vessel protection team on board a merchant vessel, as well as the handling of suspected pirates once arrested. Training was both theoretical and practical.Part of the day was also devoted to the use of the secure website Mercury. This site designed and maintained by the MSCHOA (Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa) allows all military and civilian stakeholders involved in the fight against piracy, or being potential victims, to share information or report ongoing attacks.This day is part of a broader program of cooperation overseen by the Force Headquarters on board FS MARNE. The benefit of this type of encounter is mutual. It helps Navies and Coast Guards in the region to further ...

Interview with Hans-Georg Ehrhart, conducted by WPR EU naval forces operating off the coast of Somali conducted their first raid on the Somali mainland earlier this month. In an email interview, Hans-Georg Ehrhart, the head of the Center for European Peace and Security Studies of the Institute for Peace Research and Security Studies at the University of Hamburg, discussed the EU's anti-piracy operation. WPR: What is the makeup of the European Union's Operation Atalanta, in terms of force commitments and contributing countries, and how has it evolved over time?Hans-Georg Ehrhart: Operation Atalanta was launched in 2008 and has seen its mandate extended several times, now running to the end of 2014. It operates off the coast of Somalia with up to seven combat vessels, one or two auxiliary ships, 1,400 sailors, eight helicopters, five maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and force multipliers such as medical support. Its main task is to protect vessels of the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) delivering food aid to displaced people in Somalia and of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Its secondary task is to protect vulnerable shipping and to deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery in the area ...