Following the pirating of an Indian registered cargo dhow off the coast of Somalia on Saturday 1 April 2017, EU NAVFOR once again reiterates the need for vigilance to all ships transiting the piracy high risk area. Vessels are strongly recommended to adhere to self-protection measures laid down in t
Somali pirates hijacked a small boat with a crew of 11 Indian sailors off the coast of Somalia and are demanding ransom for their release, The Associated Press reported on Monday. According to AP, who cited Graeme Gibbon Brooks of Dryad Maritime, the vessel was heading from Dubai to Bosaso, Somalia
Italian Navy’s Maestrale-class frigate ITS Espero has joined the EU’s counter piracy mission off the coast of Somalia. ITS Espero was welcomed to the counter-piracy task force on Saturday, March 25. Led by Commander Luigi Pirozzi, ITS Espero’s sailors and marines prepared for their mission with oper
Somali pirates on Thursday released the fuel tanker Aris 13 and its crew, the EU Naval Force (Somalia) confirmed. The crew were set free with no injuries after being held hostage for four days. This was also confirmed by the director general of the maritime police force of Somalia’s Puntland region,
Nigeria’s Homeland Integrated Offshore Services Limited, an oil company security services provider, has ordered two more FCS 3307 vessels to be built by Damen. According to the contract, the Damen Group is taking care of delivery and crew training, as well as the design and build. Damen’s Local Serv
For the first time since 2012, Somali pirates hijacked a tanker on March 13 off the coast of Somalia, the EU Naval Force counter-piracy operation has confirmed. The authorities said they received positive confirmation from the master of the Comoros-flagged tanker, Aris 13, that his ship and crew are
South African Navy frigate SAS Amatola and two German Navy ships returned to the port of Warnemünde on March 10, thereby concluding the bilateral exercise Good Hope. The 2017 edition of Good Hope started on February 24 and marked the first time the drill took place in the Baltic Sea. This was also t
South African defense contractor Denel has teamed up with German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for joint work on South African Navy frigates and submarines. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding on board the SAS Amatola, in Rostock, Germany, during the frigate’s deployment to European
Spanish Navy offshore patrol vessel Vigía set sail from Cadiz to conduct a series of activities in Africa as part of the Spanish government’s Defense Diplomacy Plan and a follow-on of the Africa Partnership Station (APS) initiative. These deployments are intended to enhance maritime security and to
Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas assumed the role of force commander of the European Union’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta off the Horn of Africa. Rojas assumed command on board his flagship, ESPS Galicia, during a ceremony held in Djibouti on Friday. Djibouti is a
The German Navy and Air Force are once again enhancing their relationship with the South African Navy through a drill called “Good Hope VII”. As the “VII” in the name of the bilateral maneuver suggests, this is the seventh time the two countries are organizing the exercise. This is, however, the fir
Republic of Korea Navy destroyer ROKS Choi Young will be joining operation Atalanta, an EU-led counter-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia, in March this year. The Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer will work with EU NAVFOR warships to prevent acts of piracy that plagued the waters off the c
South African Navy frigate SAS Amatole visited Plymouth, UK, to mark the sinking of the South African troop ship Mendi 100 years ago off the Isle of Wight which coincides with the nation’s Armed Forces Day. Apart from the commemoration, SAS Amatola will spend a few weeks training with the Flag Offic
Spanish Navy’s amphibious assault ship ESPS Galicia departed the navy base Rota to join the European Union counter-piracy operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean. Galicia will serve as the operation’s flagship hosting Spanish Navy Rear-Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado and his staff. This is the fourt
