European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, NATO and Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) – the big three – call upon the shipping industry to continue to take anti-piracy measures despite the current downward trend in piracy events. In a recent report published by the International Mariti
The Ukraine Government will continue to support the construction of modern ships for the Naval Forces of Ukraine. This was stated by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov during his visit a public joint stock company “Black Sea Shipbuilding Plant”, which conducted a comprehensive repair of Naval Forces’ ship
On 26 August, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Commission Vice President, Catherine Ashton visited the French EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) warship La Fayette during her visit to Kenya and Somalia. She was welcomed on board by the Com
On August 28 German EU Naval Force Frigate Sachsen came to the aid of AL SACIID, a cargo dhow adrift due to a problem with the steerage gear. The Sachsen was advised of the dhow’s predicament by a Japanese MPRA (Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft) patrolling the area. Having established goo
Explorers returned yesterday to the wreck site of HMS Hood as an ambitious attempt to raise the ship’s bell from the seabed resumes. If successful, the aim is to bring the bell back to Portsmouth to serve as a permanent memorial to all 1,415 men lost when the battle-cruiser sank in 1941. The ambitio
On 24 August 2012 the Force Commanders from the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR), NATO Operation Ocean Shield (TF-508) and Combined Task Force 151 (operated by the Combined Maritime Forces – CMF) met on board the EU NAVFOR flagship ITS San Guisto (Italian Navy) to further enha
Sri Lanka Navy intercepted 69 persons illegally bound for Australia in a multi-day trawler in the early hours of 21st August 2012. The trawler named “Asha Duwa” was intercepted by a Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Western Naval Command in the seas off Negombo. Among the arrested persons are
Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced the departure of the hull of the first of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) new amphibious ships from Ferrol in northern Spain. Mr Clare said the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) 01 hull will be transported to Melbourne, Australia, by the Heav
On 13 August the Luxembourg Maritime Patrol Aircraft Detachment deployed in support of the EU anti-piracy operation ATALANTA passed its 4.000th operational flight hour during its 707th operational sortie in theatre. This milestone occurred when Captain SOLOMON and his crew were crossing the equator
Counter piracy forces from the EU Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) Operation Atalanta and NATO disrupted two pirated dhows and freed the crew taken hostage in the Gulf of Aden. On 10 August, a suspicious dhow, reportedly pirated in Bosaso – Somalia, was located off the coast of Oman by the Spanish EU
After a three day hunt by NATO and EU counter piracy forces, HNLMS Rotterdam in close cooperation with EU unit FGS Sachsen, has successfully disrupted a pirated dhow. This end game took place in the coastal waters of Somalia. The crew has been freed and is in good condition. The suspected pirates wi
On Tuesday 7 August 2012 seven Somali men were found guilty by a Kenyan court of attempting to commit an act of piracy against a French fishing vessel, MV Captain St Vincent, off the Somali Coast in October 2009. Following the terrifying attack, the pirates, operating in 2 attack skiffs, were locate
This week FGS Sachsen has taken up station patrolling the Gulf of Aden, under the command of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR). She will shortly relieve fellow German frigate FGS Bremen which has served so successfully in countering-piracy with EUNAVFOR since May of this year. Bremen has mad
In a ceremony held on Monday 6 August 2012, on board French warship FS Marne, French Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis handed over sea command of the EU Naval Force to Italian Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, embarked on the new EU flagship ITS San Giusto. The ceremony was presided over by the EU Nav