On Saturday 15 November the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, visited the Serbian maritime protection team that is currently embarked in a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel. The protection team, known as an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment, or AVPD, is tasked, as part of the EU Na
Spanish Navy’s Meteoro class Offshore patrol vessel Rayo P42 waved goodbye to its Las Palmas Naval Base yesterday morning. The vessel started its journey to the Indian Ocean where it will participate in EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta, joining a fight against piracy off the Horn of Africa. This is Ra
One of Operation Atalanta’s objectives is to develop a greater understanding of the way of life of fishermen and other seafarers who sail in the Gulf of Aden. As a result, EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria was recently tasked to meet local fishermen, who, until two years ago, lived with the
Virtual Technology Changes Design of UK Navy Warships BAE Systems’ Engineers are overhauling their approach to the design and build of Royal Navy warships by using cutting edge virtual reality technology. US Navy’s EA-6B Prowler Retires As the sun sets on USS George H.W. Bush’s (CVN 77) current depl
EU Naval Force warship BNS Leopold I is now halfway through her deployment as part of EU Naval Force. Over the last two months, the warship has conducted counter-piracy operations across the Area of Operations. She has also conducted friendly approaches on more than 20 local dhows and skiffs. Recent
New software developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) is being tested in two maritime operational centres in Kenya and the Seychelles to help fight piracy and improve maritime security. The software provides a live picture of ship traffic activity, indicating current ship p
USS Jimmy Carter Propulsion Deal Goes to DRS Technologies DRS Power & Control Technologies is being awarded a $17,9 million modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the accomplishment of the redesign of the advanced secondary propulsion unit motor con
Between 24 October and 6 November 2014 the Royal New Zealand Air Force contributed to the European Union’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia. This is the first time that the Royal New Zealand Air Force has participated in the EU counter-piracy mission, with its P-3K
EU Naval Force warship BNS Leopold I carried out a friendly approach on a Kenyan fishing vessel in the Somali Basin. The fishing vessel has been initially sighted by the Belgian Navy warship’s Alouette III helicopter. When the warship was nearby, the fishermen invited BNS Leopold I’s team on board f
On Sunday 2 November the German Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), which is currently operating as part of the EU Naval Force, reached an impressive 4,000 flying hours milestone with Operation Atalanta. As the German P3C Orion landed back at its base in Djibouti on Sunday, the aircr
On Sunday 2 November 2014, EU Naval Force warship, HNLMS van Speijk, came to the assistance of Somali seafarers, after their boat suffered severe engine problems out to sea. The Royal Netherlands Navy warship had been carrying out a friendly approach with local fishermen when the warship’s Boarding
On Thursday 23 October HNLMS van Speijk hosted a group of sixteen students from the East African Standby Forces (EASF) of the African Union. HNLMS Van Speijk was berthed in front of the Seychelles Coast Guard Headquarters and the Dutch warship’s commanding officer welcomed the EASF students on board
After completing counter-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean, EU Naval force frigate, ESPS Navarra, entered the port of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, to re-supply the ship. During their visit, the Spanish frigate had the honour of welcoming the Spanish Ambassador to Tanzania on board. During his visit, th
After two and a half month since she joined the EU Naval Force, ESPS Navarra has paid a visit to Port Victoria in the Seychelles. As the port visit coincided with Spain’s National Day, the Spanish Ambassador to The Seychelles, Mr Miguel Fernandez Palacios, took the opportunity to visit the frigate a
