On 28 November HNLMS ZUIDERKRUIS, the Dutch Fast Combat Support Ship, left EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA to return to her home port in Den Helder.
After approximately three months under the Command of the EU NAVFOR and in total 36 years serving in the Royal Netherlands Navy the supply ship will be decommissioned after returning to her home port.
Commanded by Commander Herman de Groot and with a crew of 190, during her time in the mission she escorted two AMISOM and two World Food Program (WFP)-shipments, supported warships in the area with fuel and stores and conducted counter-piracy surveillance.
In his farewell signal to ZUIDERKRUIS the EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Rear Admiral Thomas E.P. Jugel said: “Thanks for all your support and professionalism during the recent months. Your deployment was a convincing success. Your reliability, eagerness and flexibility were of dependable permanence. Fair winds, following seas and a big thank you to all the crew of HNLMS ZUIDERKRUIS.”
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