Funding
New Aircraft Team Takes Over African Counter-Piracy Ops
On Tuesday 25 November the outgoing 20th Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft Contingent held a Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony with the 21st Contingent team to hand over their counter-piracy duties in the Horn of Africa. The ceremony took place at the French Air Base in Djibouti. The military cere
No Room for Complacency Against Somali Piracy
The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Major General Martin Smith MBE, visited the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr Koji Sekimizu, at the IMO headquarters in London on Wednesday 26 November. Meeting to discuss the current situation off the Horn of Africa
ESPS Navarra Hosts Local Somali Leaders on Board
During the last week EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Navarra, invited local Somali leaders on board in order to help build relations between the EU Naval Force and the Somali people. After being welcomed on board, the Somalis were given an insight into the EU’s Operation Atalanta, that is helping to ma
BNS Leopold I Holds Maritime Capacity Building with Tanzanian Navy
On 19 and 20 November, during her recent port visit to Dar Es Salam, EU Naval Force warship BNS Leopold I hosted members of the Tanzanian Navy in support of EUCAP Nestor’s initiative to conduct Local Maritime Capability Building (LMCB). On the first day, BNS Leopold I’s crew organised several worksh
Dutch Warship Hosts EU Civilian Crisis Management Committee
During their recent port visit to Djibouti, Dutch warship HNLMS van Speijk hosted a visit from the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management, or CIVCOM, which is an advisory body within the European Union dealing with crisis management. The delegation consisted, amongst others, of sixteen
EU’s Operation Atalanta Extended until 2016
The Council has extended the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta by two more years, until 12 December 2016. The Operation’s main focus is the protection of World Food Programme vessels delivering humanitarian aid to Somalia; and the deterrence, repression and disruption of piracy off the Somali c
Commander CTF-150, MARCOM Discuss Interaction in Indian Ocean
The future Commander of Combined Maritime Forces Task Force 150 (CTF-150), Commodore Brian Santarpia (CAN N), visited NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) to discuss coordination and interaction with NATO forces in the Indian Ocean. During the visit, Commodore Santarpia met with MARCOM Deputy Comma
Australian DF: Russian Flotilla Leaves Coral Sea
Australian Defence Force vessels and aircraft have completed monitoring a Russian Surface Task Group that was operating in the Coral Sea to Australia’s north. The Russian ships did not enter Australian territorial waters and have now departed the Coral Sea. The flotilla included Russian Federation S
HNLMS Van Speijk Guards WFP Vessel along Somali Coast
EU Naval Force Dutch frigate, HNLMS Van Speijk, has escorted a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the Somali coast to keep it safe from a potential pirate attack. The WFP ship was carrying food such as soya, cooking oil and flour from Mombasa in Kenya to the Somali port of Kismayo. The food wil
German Naval Staff Chief Visits EU NAVFOR HQ
Earlier today the Chief of the German Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, visited the EU Naval Force Operational Headquarters in Northwood, London. The visit was an opportunity for Vice Admiral Krause to be given an update on Operation Atalanta, the European Union’s counter-piracy operation of
Naval Forces Rescue 1,500 North African Migrants
Naval forces rescued more than 1,500 North African migrants over the weekend in the Strait of Sicily, according to the Italian Navy. The Portuguese Navy’s Offshore patrol vessel Viana do Castelo conducted its first rescue operations as part of the EU Operation Triton, which was launched on November
ESPS Navarra Hosts Spanish Ambassador to Oman
On Sunday 9 November the Spanish Ambassador to Oman, His Excellency Mr Juan José Urtasun, paid a visit to ESPS Navarra during her port visit to Muscat, Oman. Port visits such as this are an opportunity to resupply the Spanish warship with food and stores, and give the crew the opportunity to take so
EU Force Commander Visits Serbian Maritime Protection Team aboard WFP Vessel
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 Rayo Deploys for Operation Atalanta
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