On Wednesday 16 January 2013 Rear Admiral Duncan Potts handed over operational command of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) to Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant.
Rear Admiral Potts has commanded EU NAVFOR, the European Union’s counter piracy mission off Somalia, since August 2011.
This period has witnessed a considerable reduction in the number of pirate attacks, reducing from 176 in 2011 to 35 in 2012. Pirate hijackings also reduced from 25 in 2011 to 5 in 2012. No vessel has been successfully pirated in the Indian Ocean since May 2012.
Admiral Potts leaves EU NAVFOR to take up a new role with the Royal Navy.
Prior to joining EU NAVFOR, Rear Admiral Tarrant commanded the Combined Task Force 150 – responsible for promoting maritime security in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. He brings with him extensive operational experience within a multi-national coalition operating within the region. He has also commanded a Royal Navy nuclear submarine and a surface vessel.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 17, 2013; Image: EUNAVFOR