On April 17th, a boarding team of HNLMS Evertsen of the Dutch Navy boarded BigLift’s Happy Dragon in a drill against piracy. The drill took place in the Gulf of Aden. HNLMS Evertsen and Happy Dragon met out at sea to practice a so-called boarding operation. Happy Dragon assumed the part of a captu
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
On the eve of Anzac Day commemorations, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Darwin seized and destroyed more than one tonne of heroin. The record 1032 kilograms of heroin was discovered on board a dhow in the Indian Ocean, approximately 27 nautical miles east of Mombasa, Kenya. Late on the 23rd Apr
On Saturday 26 April the master of a dhow spoke of his relief after 6 armed pirates, who had taken his vessel and crew hostage, fled the scene after sightings of an EU Naval Force Spanish maritime patrol and reconnaissance (MPRA) aircraft. The master confirmed his ordeal to members of the Boarding
During a port visit to Djibouti, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, met with the Chinese Military Attaché to Djibouti, Ji Mingzhou, on board the EU Naval Force flagship FGS Brandenburg. During the meeting they discussed the key issues related to counter piracy off the Horn of Africa and the successfu
On Wednesday 23 April the German Secretary of Defence, Ursula von der Leyen, visited the EU Naval Force flagship, FGS Brandenburg during the German warship’s port visit to Djibouti. In what was her first visit to the German Navy since her inauguration, she met the troops from the European Union’s co
Whilst conducting counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa different nations from different task forces often meet. In this case the US supply ship USNS Joshua Humphreys from Task Force 53 provided two flagships with fuel. FGS Brandenburg flagship of the EU Naval Force Somalia Operation At
This past weekend, NATO’s counter-piracy flagship, ESPS CRISTOBAL COLON, engaged with the Royal Omani Navy and the European Union Naval Force’s (EUNAVFOR) counter-piracy task force commander (CTF-465) following a port visit to Salalah, Oman. COLON departed Salalah on Saturday 12 April 2014 and con
On 11 April the Force Commander of EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, visited the first ship of his task force since he took over command. The Hellenic frigate HS Psara, which has been part of EU Naval Force since February 2014, is participating i
While patrolling in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Darwin provided emergency medical assistance for a heart attack victim on a French fishing vessel. The French Fishing Vessel (FV) Cape Saint Vincent called for assistance late on the night of the 10th of
“All those involved in the replenishment at sea are required at their station”. When this order is broadcast over loudspeakers on board the German tanker FGS Rhön, the seamanship crew reacts quickly by donning their hard hats and safety gear before making final preparations for what is a highly spec
Since Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen assumed force command of the EU Naval Force on Sunday 6 April, he has been very busy ensuring that his flagship, FGS Brandenburg, and the rest of the EU Naval Force warships and maritime patrol aircraft under his command are fully prepared for the important role
On Sunday 6 April the German commander of the EU Naval Force Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) P-3C Orion reached 3,000 of flying hours. After he returned to the Djibouti airbase, where the aircraft is currently based, he received a special welcome from the German MPRA detachment le
On Monday 7 April the German tanker Rhön arrived in the port of Djibouti to join the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. The tanker under the command of Captain Egon Rhauderwiek will provide regular replenishment support to the EU Naval Force warships and other inter
