A key role for the EU Naval Force is to protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels carrying humanitarian aid to the Somali people from possible pirate attack. On Monday 22 December the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, took on the important duty of escorting WFP ship, MV Liberty, 500 nautic
USCG Searches for Toscana’s Crewmember The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for the master of a freight ship reported overboard approximately 60 miles east of Wake Island Sunday. Russia: Borey-A Class Submarine’s Keel Laid Russia based Sevmash Shipyard, Severodvinsk, on 26th December, 2014, held a keel
On Sunday 21 December whilst conducting counter-piracy patrols, Spanish Navy warship, ESPS Rayo, met local seafarers in the Gulf of Aden. This is the third meeting that the crew from ESPS Rayo has carried out with local fishermen since her departure from Spain. ESPS Rayo is part of Spain’s contribut
During the morning of 19th December, EU Naval Force Warship, ESPS Rayo, and the South Korean destroyer, ROKS Daejoyeong, met at sea to to enhance the relationship between EU Naval Force warships and those of other task forces operating in the area. ROKS Daejoyeong, whose main task is to escort convo
From 15 to 19 December, the EU Naval Force Flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, paid a port visit to Madagascar, berthing for the first time in the beautiful bay of Antsiranana. On Monday 15 December, Rear Admiral Guido Rando and the Commanding Officer of ITS Andrea Doria, Captain Angelo Virdis were received
On 16 December, during her port visit to Antsiranana, the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, conducted Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training with personnel from the Madagascan Navy. Italian Marines from ITS Andrea Doria provided instruction in techniques for the safe detainment of
On Monday 15 December, during her port visit to Djibouti, EU Naval Force warship ESPS Rayo conducted Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training in support of and in coordination with, the EU maritime capacity building mission, EU CAP Nestor. The training began with a briefing on board ESPS Ray
On 10 December 2014 Spanish Navy warship ESPS Navarra headed for home after completing a deployment with the EU Naval Force in the Indian Ocean. ESPS Navarra joined Operation Atalanta, the EU’s counter-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia, on 23rd July. Since then she has completed a range of dut
On Monday 8 December Spanish warship ESPS Rayo joined the EU Naval Force. The ship will be deployed at sea in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden for the next 6 months. Following an intense period of operational sea training, ESPS Rayo departed her home port of Las Palmas on 17 November, with an [&hel
On Friday 5 December EU Naval Force Spanish frigate, ESPS Navarra, rendezvoused at sea with the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, off the coast of Somalia. After sailing near to each other, the Commanding Officer of ESPS Navarra, Commander Alejandro Cuerda Lorenzo, and two Spanish journalis
On Sunday 7 December Djiboutian Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed awarded Commander Bernard Baron (French Navy) the rank and dignity of Officer of the National Order of 27th of June. Commander Baron was presented with the award for his ‘outstanding service and assistance given to the Djibouti
On Tuesday 2 December Colonel Giampaolo Schiavo handed over command of the Djiboutian-based Italian Task Force Air (TFA) to Colonel Elio Volpari. During the past four months the TFA team has been operating with the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta, and conducted over 200 unmanned aerial flight
Rear Admiral Rando visited Brigadier-General Philippe Montocchio, the Commander of French Forces in Djibouti. They both discussed the current piracy situation in the Gulf of Aden. During the meeting Rear Admiral Rando said: A lot has been done, but we have to maintain focus as piracy is not yet erad
On 30 November 2014 Royal Netherlands Navy warship, HNLMS Van Speijk and Belgian Navy warship, BNS Leopold I, completed their tour of duty with the EU Naval Force off the coast of Somalia. HNLMS Van Speijk joined the EU Naval Force on 24th August and during the last three months she has completed a
