The Spanish Navy’s amphibious assault ship ‘Galicia’ has set sail from Rota Naval Base towards the Indian Ocean to take part in the counter piracy operation ‘Atalanta’. On this occasion, the ship will operate as command ship of the force and, to this end, the Spanish rear admiral Alfonso Gómez Ferná
On Wednesday 15 April, French Navy warship, FS L’Adroit, joined the EU Naval Force to conduct counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. The L’Adroit is a Gowind class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), that can accommodate a helicopter, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a Rigid Hulled Inflatabl
On Tuesday 7 April a Serbian maritime protection team joined the EU Naval Force to take on the role of protecting World Food Programme (WFP) vessel, MSM Dourno from potential pirate attack as it sails along the Somali coast. A maritime protection team from Croatia has held this important role for th
During her recent visit to Port Victoria, in the Seychelles, EU Naval Force warship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, in association with a team from EUCAP Nestor, conducted a Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise, with local Seychellois maritime and air agencies. The purpose of the exercise was to run through the l
EU Naval Force warship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, through her embarked Swedish CB90 Fast Assault craft, conducted a Friendly Approach (FA) whilst on EU counter-piracy patrols along the Somali coastline. A FA is a friendly and voluntary interaction with local seafarers who are not suspected of being engag
On Thursday 26 March, EU Naval Force warship ESPS Rayo conducted maritime training with the Malagasy Navy during her port visit to Antsiranana. Following a short tour of the ship, the Malagasy Navy trainees were briefed on navigation procedures in shallow waters and on the Electronic Chart Display (
On Tuesday 31 March EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Infanta Cristina, carried out a Friendly Approach with local Somali fishermen during one of her counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden. Once permission to go on board had been granted by the Somali master, ESPS Infanta Cristina’s boat crew approac
During a scheduled port of call in Antsiranana (Madagascar), the oceanic patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Rayo’ carried out training drills with personnel from the Madagascan Navy. This is the fifth time the ‘Rayo’ collaborates with Horn of Africa coastal states taking advantage of her deployment, participating
On the 24th of March, during their port visit to Dar Es Salaam, EU Naval Force Flagship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, conducted maritime training with a delegation from the Tanzanian Navy. The 14 Tanzanian trainees were given a briefing on first aid, including measures to take in-case of a combat injury. Th
The EU Naval Force achieved a milestone this week by successfully completing its 300th close protection of a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the Somali coastline. This means that nearly one million tonnes of food aid, including wheat, grain and sorghum, destined for the Somali people, has be
While conducting counter-piracy patrols near to the Somali coastline, EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Rayo, welcomed on board local Somali leaders. The Somali leaders joined the crew in the Officers’ Wardroom for lunch, where they discussed the piracy situation off the coast of Somalia and other mariti
As part of the European Union’s efforts to enhance regional states’ maritime security capabilities in the Horn of Africa, on 15 March EUCAP Nestor gave six Nissan 4×4 vehicles, as well as IT and communications equipment, to the Coast Guard of the Federal Government of Somalia. The handover of the ve
On Sunday 8 March EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Infanta Cristina, conducted a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with United States Navy Supply Ship, USNS Laramie. Once at the rendezvous point at sea, ESPS Infanta Cristina took up her position on the port side of USNS Laramie in order to start what is a rout
On the afternoon of 9 March, EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Infanta Cristina, carried out her first meeting, or ‘friendly approach’ with local seafarers in the Gulf of Aden since she joined the European Union’s counter-piracy operation, Atalanta a few days earlier. ESPS Infanta Cristina is currently p
