The Counter-Piracy force of the European Union (EU NAVFOR), typically comprising 4 – 7 Surface Combat Vessels patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa, was joined by the French navy frigate FS Guépratte today, 25 April 2012. The 125 meter long FS Guépratte with 3600 metric tonnes displacement
Sixteen Sailors from USS Simpson (FFG 56), six Cape Verdean Coast Guardsmen and school staff painted classrooms at the Escola Lavadouro School in Praia, Cape Verde, April 20. Simpson Sailors scraped away old paint, sanded down the walls and added several layers of paint to two classrooms that had pr
EU Naval Force flagship FS Marne and RFA Fort Victoria, flagship of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) – part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) rendezvoused off the Omani coast on 18 April. EU Force Commander Rear Admiral Dupuis welcomed his Thaï counterpart, Rear Admiral Tanin Likitawong, on
Six members comprising a team of Cape Verde’s Coast Guard, Maritime and Judicial Police, joined eight members of a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and Sailors from guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56), March 27 through April 18, in recent African Maritime Law Enforcement P
The manoeuvres were conducted smoothly demonstrating a high degree of interoperability between EU NAFVOR Units and Coalition Task Force 151. Within one hour the RAS was completed, during which F76 and F44 was loaded and the formation also completed a “corpen november”. A corpen november is a manoeuv
During the last week EU Naval Force (NAVFOR) Spanish and French frigates have ensured that much needed humanitarian aid has been delivered safely to the people of Somalia. From 5 to 11 April, Spanish frigate ESPS Infanta Elena and French warship FS Aconit took it in turns to escort World Food Progra
Dutch EU NAVFOR warship HNLMS VAN AMSTEL completed two escorts of World Food Programme (WFP) chartered merchant vessels Mary Ann Hudson and Golden Bridge, on a tour between 14 and 17 April from Berbera to Bosaso and back. Both escorts in this high risk area were carried out smoothly and without any
On Saturday 14 April Spanish warship ESPS Reina Sofia, who is now operating as part of the EU’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, stopped a Yemeni dhow that was suspected of carrying armed Somali pirates. The French Air Force Awacs E3F, FS Dixmude and her helicopters, as well as an Austral
Having taken over as the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) flagship on 7 April 2012, French warship FS Marne has already been very busy out at sea ensuring that the Task Force remains fully prepared for counter-piracy operations off Somalia. In her first 3 days the ship has carried out a number of replenish
The USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) hosted the U.S. ambassador to Morocco, the commander, U.S. Africa Command, staff, and Moroccan guests, April 16. Ambassador Samuel L. Kaplan and Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander, U.S. Africa Command, also jo
After passing through the Suez Canal on 1 April, the multipurpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel officially began its participation in EU Operation Atalanta. The Van Amstel will contribute to the mission against pirates operating off the coast of East Africa up to the end of May 2012.Operation Atalanta is
Pirate camps on the Somali coast may now also be tackled from Dutch ships. The Dutch Government approved the expansion of the Atalanta counterpiracy mission and informed the House of Representatives of the decision on 6 April. However, military personnel will not set foot on land for the purposes of
