On Thursday 2 August 2012, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, visited the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) counter piracy operation headquarters (OHQ) in Northwood, UK. She was welcomed to the OHQ by Rear
On 24 July Force Commander of the European Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR), Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis, met with the Omani authorities in Salalah (Oman) to deepen the excellent operational cooperation between Operation Atalanta and the Royal Navy of Oman. Following a twelve
She worked for half a year to protect Britain’s interests in the Middle East and Indian Ocean, but now that job lies with another ship. HMS Westminster is on her way home having handed over to Devonport-based frigate HMS Sutherland. During her time Westminster – known as The Capital Ship – has disru
A crowd of happy loved ones gathered on the jetty at HM Naval Base Devonport, including five fiancées who accepted proposals of marriage while the Trafalgar class submarine was on operations thousands of miles from home. The crowd waved and cheered and held home-made greetings banners aloft as the s
RFA Lyme Bay, the fifth ship to have a multi-million pound refit as part of the Cluster contract at A&P Falmouth, has arrived in the port for work to begin. She returned to Falmouth after three years in the Gulf supporting coalition operations. The major refits, carried out every five years, have be
On July 17, the Commander of the Chinese task force operating in the Gulf of Aden met with EU Naval Force – Operation Atalanta Force Commander Rear Admiral Dupuis on board FS Marne. Additionally to the international Counter piracy forces, EU Naval Force Atalanta, NATO and Combined Task Force 151 (CT
Calmer waters seem to be on the horizon as the threat from Somali pirates is withering, NATO’s counter-piracy commander said, warning that the international forces shouldn’t lower their guard before the threat is completely removed. Speaking in figures, in the first half of 2012 the number of Somali
On 18 July the Force Commanders of the three international Counter-Piracy task forces, the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR), NATO Operation Ocean Shield (TF-508) and Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151; operated by the Combined Maritime Forces – CMF) met on board the NATO flagshi
The maritime environment has changed significantly in recent years, due to piracy and terrorism, climate change and environmental protection, and the offshore sector. Global trading of goods continues to grow, and 90% of it is carried by sea, so security of the overall global maritime logistic chain
On 18 July the ferry MV Skagit was reported to be sinking off Chumbe island. The EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) immediately redirected a Luxembourg Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), which was conducting counter-piracy patrols closest to the location of the si
From 4 to 13 July , the EU Naval Force – Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) provided protection to a ship chartered for AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) supplies. The German frigate Bremen and the French frigate Guépratte took turns to carry out this mission, from the south Red Sea to Mogadishu
On 17 and 18 July, the Djiboutian navy and the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) French frigate Guépratte, will participate in the joint surveillance operation “7 Brothers” in international waters near the Islands of Seven Brothers and the Bab El Mandeb strait. With a new operational center and a network o
On 15 July, EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) German frigate Bremen organised an exchange of experience with the Piracy information-sharing centre (ISC) in Mombasa. This centre is one of three under the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the West
HNLMS Rotterdam, the amphibious transport ship, left Den Helder to take part in the counterpiracy operation Ocean Shield. Once in Somali waters, the 320-strong crew will be joined by the staff of the NATO squadron, led by Dutch Commodore Ben Bekkering. Commodore Bekkering has overall command of the
