On Wednesday 6 May 2015 Rear Admiral Alfonso Gómez from the Spanish Navy, assumed command of Operation Atalanta’s Force Headquarters (FHQ) during a ceremony held in Djibouti.
The new FHQ staff, which is embarked in Spanish Navy warship, ESPS Galicia, is made up from 14 European Union Member States, as well as personnel from the EU’s partner nation, Djibouti.
Rear Admiral Gomez will lead the EU Naval Force at sea for approximately five months.
Rear Admiral Gomez assumed Force Command from Rear Admiral Jonas Haggren, (Swedish Navy), who has been the EU Naval Force Commander on board HNLMS Johan de Witt, since February 2015.
The EU Naval Force, in co-operation with counter-piracy partners, has been highly effective in reducing pirate attacks. At the height of Somali piracy in January 2011, 736 hostages and 32 ships were being held by pirates. As of May 2015, no merchant vessels are being held in captivity.
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Image: EUNAVFOR