On 19 February, HNLMS De Ruyter, has stopped the activities of a group of suspected pirates approximately 120 nautical miles east of Eyl off the coast of Somalia. Nine suspected pirates were apprehended and taken on board of the De Ruyter. The Dutch frigate that is deployed with the European Union N
On 12 February 2013, during a port visit by the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez to Port Victoria in the Seychelles, the EUNAVFOR Force Commander, Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes, met the Chief of Defence of the Seychelles People’s Defence Force
The Swedish Coast Guard MPRA aircraft left the Seychelles on 15 February 2013 after a productive four month deployment to the Seychelles as part of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta. The Swedish coastguard Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, joined the operation in October 2012 and lef
Military representatives from eight Mediterranean countries from Africa and Europe came together with the U.S. Navy for the main planning conference in support of Exercise Phoenix Express 2013 in Garmisch, Germany, Feb. 5-8. Phoenix Express, set to take place in the spring, is an at-sea maritime exe
The three-day initial planning conference for Africa Partnership Station took place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Feb. 11-13. The primary operational elements of APS include international partner missions conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, with African n
Belgian frigate BNS Louise-Marie is on her way home after completing three months of counter piracy patrols with the European Union’s counter piracy mission – EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) – Operation Atalanta. BNS Louise-Marie joined EU NAVFOR, which fights piracy off the coast of Somalia, on 23 Novem
The Philippines: AGHAM Calls for Naval, Ship-Building Self-Reliance In light of the recent Tubbataha incident, activist scientist group AGHAM or Advocates of Science and Technology for the People called on the Philippine government to build a national ship-building industry that will strengthen the
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced plans to collaborate, along with Shell, BP, Maersk, Stena NYK and “K” Line with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support job creation and skill development projects in Somalia. The industry partners will provide funding of US$ 1 million to the UN
Military Sealift Command-chartered HSV Swift (HSV 2) completed a nearly 10-month deployment to the Europe and Africa areas of responsibility Jan. 31. During that time, Swift and her crew of contract mariners and a U.S. Navy detachment conducted 38 port visits to Africa and 15 to Europe, circumnaviga
The Spanish Navy ship ‘Méndez Núñez’, deployed from November 22 within Operation “Atalanta” undertaken by the European Union Naval Force to fight against piracy off Somalia, has been working with the Tanzanian Navy and police, providing them with relevant education and training. A delegation of 27 m
The last two weeks of January have been a busy period for ESPS Cantabria (CMDR J.L. Nieto) and her embarked RAN DET. Having successfully navigated the Suez Canal, Cantabria entered the Gulf of Aden (GoA) area of operations. Cantabria conducted Replenishment at Sea (RAS) activities in support of EUNA
On 29 January 2013, during a port visit to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes, the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), welcomed Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant on board his flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez. This is the first meeting between both admirals since Rear Admir
Commanding Officer of USS Pasadena Relieved of Duty Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, Commander, Submarine Group 2, relieved Cmdr. Luis Molina, commanding officer of USS Pasadena (SSN 752) on Jan. 25 due to loss of confidence in executing his duties as the submarine’s commanding officer. USA: Gerald
During the reporting period of 22 – 29 January 2013 there were no piracy related incidents in the High Risk Area (HRA), NATO Shipping Centre informed in its Weekly Piracy Update. Merchant vessels are reminded to remain vigilant while transiting this area and ensure that Self Protection Measures are