The Spanish Navy’s frigate ‘Reina Sofía’ (F-84) has just departed from Rota Naval Base towards the Mediterranean to integrate into the Second Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG-2) whose mission is to enhance and warrant the security in that Sea. During her deployment in the NATO Task Group, the ‘Rei
During her recent port visit to Djibouti to replenish food and spare parts, Dutch frigate HNLMS Van Speijk, took the opportunity to assist EUCAP Nestor in delivering practical training for Somali students who are currently completing a port control course. After the warship arrived in Djibouti, the
Task Force 508 of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield has conducted training with Somali Coast Guard personnel. The training took place off the coast of the town of Hobyo on October 12th and 13th and marks the first time Somali maritime forces have trained in their territorial waters. Follo
On Tuesday 14 October a delegation of senior officers from the Indonesian Defence Forces visited the EU Naval Force Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Northwood. The delegation led by Vice Admiral Ade Supandi, Chief of the General Staff of the Indonesian Defence Forces was welcomed by the Operation C
German Bremen Class Frigate FGS Lübeck joined EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta on 6 October. She relieved the German Joint Support Ship FGS Berlin following a few days of handover in the port of Djibouti. The Captain of FGS Lübeck, Commander Peter Christian Semrau, who has been training for
On 5 October, EU Naval Force Warship, FGS Berlin conducted her twenty-first and final Replenishment at Sea (RAS) as part of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta with the EU Naval Force Flagship ITS Andrea Doria. The EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando and nine members of th
Since 21 September an EU Naval Force Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) from Serbia has been embarked onboard the World Food Programme (WFP) chartered vessel MV Douro and will remain so for the next three months. One of the core tasks of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atala
A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) CHALLENGER (CL-604) from the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) is currently supporting NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD Task Force 508 (CTF-508). The Danish MPA is stationed in the Seychelles and includes an aircrew and support team of 21 personnel, including
Having taken Operation Command of the EU Naval Force at the end of August, a priority for Major General Martin Smith MBE was to visit the Horn of Africa and the east African region to strengthen ties with the EU’s partners and highlight EU Naval Force’s commitment in the fight against Somali piracy.
EU NAVFOR Warship HNLMS Van Speijk escorted the World Food Programme (WFP) chartered vessel from 21-25 September before handing over to FGS Berlin allowing the Dutch Frigate to proceed north whilst the German Auxiliary Fleet Support vessel continued the escort from 26-29 September. “The broad range
USCG Commanding Officer of Activities Europe Temporarily Relieved The US Coast Guard temporarily relieved Capt. James B. Robertson, commanding officer of Activities Europe, Tuesday due to loss of confidence in his abilities to command. US Navy, Australia Order TIH Systems for Submarines DRS Laurel
On 28 September, EU Naval Force Flagship ITS Andrea Doria arrived in Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Oman for a busy 4 day port visit. The port visit coincided with a port visit of the flagship of NATO Operation Ocean Shield, HDMS Esbern Snare and a visit of the Force Commander of Combined Maritime Forc
Recently, whilst conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden in an area with a large number of fishing vessels, EU Naval Force Warship ESPS Navarra conducted a friendly approach on a dhow. To help strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU Naval Force and local seafarers,
Yesterday morning, five NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) arrived in Algiers for a scheduled port visit, during the Group’s deployment to the Mediterranean to enhance maritime security and readiness, and in support of NATO counter-terrorism Operation ACTI