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
HMS Dauntless played a key part in helping to keep the waters off West Africa safe during a major international exercise. The Portsmouth-based destroyer joined warships and personnel from ten other nations off Senegal for Exercise Saharan Express aimed at dealing with the enduring threats of people
HMS Dauntless visited Lisbon in Portugal on her journey to the South Atlantic, bringing a new crewmember – Percy the bear. This is the Navy’s latest globe-trotting mascot, enjoying his first foreign port on the maiden deployment of Britain’s most-advanced warship, HMS Dauntless: Lisbon in Portugal.
All eleven pirates that were apprehended by EU Naval Force warship FS Nivose in May 2009 and transferred to Kenyan authorities in May 2009 were found guilty on 19 April 2012. By ruling of the Magistrate the eleven pirates now face 20 years imprisonment. It was 3 years ago when French frigate FS Nivo
The Counter-Piracy force of the European Union (EU NAVFOR), typically comprising 4 – 7 Surface Combat Vessels patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa, was joined by the French navy frigate FS Guépratte today, 25 April 2012. The 125 meter long FS Guépratte with 3600 metric tonnes displacement
Six members comprising a team of Cape Verde’s Coast Guard, Maritime and Judicial Police, joined eight members of a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and Sailors from guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56), March 27 through April 18, in recent African Maritime Law Enforcement P
During the last week EU Naval Force (NAVFOR) Spanish and French frigates have ensured that much needed humanitarian aid has been delivered safely to the people of Somalia. From 5 to 11 April, Spanish frigate ESPS Infanta Elena and French warship FS Aconit took it in turns to escort World Food Progra
Having taken over as the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) flagship on 7 April 2012, French warship FS Marne has already been very busy out at sea ensuring that the Task Force remains fully prepared for counter-piracy operations off Somalia. In her first 3 days the ship has carried out a number of replenish
The USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) hosted the U.S. ambassador to Morocco, the commander, U.S. Africa Command, staff, and Moroccan guests, April 16. Ambassador Samuel L. Kaplan and Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander, U.S. Africa Command, also jo
After passing through the Suez Canal on 1 April, the multipurpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel officially began its participation in EU Operation Atalanta. The Van Amstel will contribute to the mission against pirates operating off the coast of East Africa up to the end of May 2012.Operation Atalanta is
Pirate camps on the Somali coast may now also be tackled from Dutch ships. The Dutch Government approved the expansion of the Atalanta counterpiracy mission and informed the House of Representatives of the decision on 6 April. However, military personnel will not set foot on land for the purposes of
On the morning of 7 April, French Navy frigate ACONIT was heading towards a position in the north of the Horn of Africa to join with Spanish frigate INFANTA ELENA, and take over the escort of a World Food Programme ship. Meanwhile, in Djibouti, Spain was about to hand over command of Task Force 465
Great Britain and France are forming strike task force in order to destroy land infrastructure of Somali pirates, reports BBC. The task force includes French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, British light aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark, and s
EUNAVFOR – the counter piracy task force sent by the European Union to patrol the waters off the Horn of Africa, has been joined by two additional warships. The Dutch multi-role frigate HNLMS VAN AMSTEL has arrived in the area, as well as Spanish frigate ESPS REINA SOFIA. Both ships have helicopters
