HMS Westminster smashed the actions of three pirate groups in a fortnight – sending the boats to the bottom of the Indian Ocean. The Portsmouth-based warship treated the skiffs to a Viking funeral, blasting them out of the water with her guns and those of her Merlin helicopter. With orange-red flame
Today the Republic of the Seychelles agreed to accept for prosecution 11 suspected pirates who were captured by EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) frigate HNLMS Van Amstel on Friday 11 May. The 11 suspected pirates had pirated an Iranian dhow with 17 innocent Iranian fishermen onboard at the beginning of Ma
The commitment of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia through boosting capacity building in the region has been underlined with the signing of five strategic partnerships with a number of UN agencies and the EU, following a Conference on Capacity B
Chiefs of European Navies (CHENS) have held their annual meeting in Ostend from May 10 to 11, 2012. This event serves as an opportunity for maritime leaders to discuss common interests, define the major themes of research for work and trade, and set forth their findings from the studies undertaken d
Staff from the European Union Naval Force alongside other missions* deployed within the framework of the European Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), presented Operation Atalanta to visitors of the EU Open Day on Saturday, 9 May 2012. At the Operation Atalanta stand inside the European Counci
Earlier today, following the decision taken on 23 March 2012 by the Council of the European Union to allow the EU Naval Force to take disruption action against known pirate supplies on the shore, EU forces conducted an operation to destroy pirate equipment on the Somali coastline. The operation was
After a visit of the ship and particularly the operational room and presentation of the sensors and weapons, the Djiboutian coast guard was briefed on the measures to be implemented when under pirate attack. This was also the opportunity to brief them on Best Management Practices and protective meas
From 1985, 9 May was established as Europe Day and events around Europe and the rest of world mark the achievements and challenges of building a Europe based on peace, social progress, economic development and solidarity. And on this occasion, every year the EU opens its doors to the public. If you
Exercise of forces for the upcoming fire-fighting season, “Summer 2012”, was held on Friday 4th, in “Prince Trpimir” Barracks in Divulje. The exercise was attended by the Prime Minister Zoran Milanović, Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović, Interior Minister Ranko Ostojić, Chief of General Staff Lieut
The first one of the three mine countermeasure vessels ordered by the Finnish Navy, MHC (Mine Hunter Coastal) Katanpää was handed over to the Finnish Navy. The vessel was accepted by the Commander of the Finnish Navy, Rear Admiral Veli-Jukka Pennala at the Intermarine shipyard in La Spezia, Italy. T
April 28, late afternoon, after 24 dense hours and three consecutive replenishments at sea led by EU NAVFOR flag ship Marne, Force Commander Rear Admiral Dupuis received his counterpart from NATO – Operation Ocean Shield. This long sequence started at dusk on April 27 for the command and replenishme
Major General Ramsay is the son of the late Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, best known for his roles in organising Operation Dynamo, the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940, and for planning the naval part of the D-Day landings, Operation Neptune, in 1944. On opening the building Major General Ramsay said “
Naval District Washington and the Australian Embassy commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea at the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza, May 1. The ceremony remembered and honored those who participated in the battle from both the Australian and U.S. navies. “It’s an honor to be here a
Fleet Base West has experienced a busy first half of 2012, with both HMAS Stirling and West based Fleet Units playing host to several high profile international visitors since January. April was particularly busy with a flurry of VIP visits to the West. The first was from the United States Secretary
