FGS KÖLN conducted her last day of operations as a part of EU NAVFOR, after 74 days in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin.
During this deployment, FGS KÖLN was tasked in all aspects of Operation ATALANTA, ranging from the escort of World Food Programme ships carrying food-aid into Somalia to counter-piracy and surveillance operations along the Somali coast.
A total of 42 failed pirates were stopped at sea and seven small boats from four separate groups were destroyed. In addition, five Somali fishermen were rescued and the hijacked Dhow AL JABAL, with two Yemeni hostages on board, was handed over to Yemeni authorities and her owner.
EU NAVFOR Operation Commander, Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts , expressed his thanks to the Commanding Officer and ship’s company, stating:
“ As you leave the Operation ATALANTA theatre, I offer my congratulations and thanks for all you have done and achieved this autumn. Proactive & determined, your actions in not only defending World Food Programme Programme ships against the pirates b ut more significantly your action to neutralise a number of pirate action groups has made a hugely important contribution to our campaign. You can be immensely proud of what you have done and I wish you a safe return to Germany.
Commander of the Task Force 465, Rear Admiral Thomas E.P. Jugel wrote : “Your spirit, excellence and eagerness were more than welcome in EUNAVFOR Somalia Operation ATALANTA.”
This deployment marks the end of the FGS KÖLN’s career after 27 years of service in the German Navy as she will be decommissioned on return to Germany.
EU NAVFOR conducts counter-piracy in the Indian Ocean and is responsible for the protection of World Food Program ships carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Somalia and the logistic support vessels of the African Union troops conducting Peace Support Operations in Somalia. Additionally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, November 30, 2011; Image: eunavfor