The Greek Navy frigate HS Psara which has been deployed with the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta since February has provided emergency medical assistance to the crew member of a dhow.
It was during a routine flight by a Japanese Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance (MPRA) on Monday 28 April that the dhow was spotted in the eastern Gulf of Aden. The dhow’s master requested medical assistance through the emergency radio channel.
As a result of the emergency call, the EU Force Commander on board FGS Brandenburg tasked HS Psara, which was conducting counter-piracy patrols nearby, to proceed towards the dhow and provide medical assistance.
The doctor of HS Psara, Lieutenant Georgios Panagakis and his medical assistant, Ensign Konstantinos Athanasiou, embarked the dhow and after assessing that the crew member was suffering from febrile food poisoning, gave him appropriate medical treatment.
Since the European Union Naval Force began counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia in December 2008, EU warships have, as well making a significant contribution in the fight against piracy, provided much-needed medical and technical assistance to a number of seafarers at sea.
[mappress] Press Release, May 1, 2014; Image: EU Navfor