Rear Admiral Hudson and former Force Commanders cutting the anniversary cake
10 December 2009 marks the first anniversary of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, the successful EU Naval Force operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin against piracy. This anniversary represents a period of concerted achievement by the EU Naval Force in its fight against piracy. Hosted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE and co chaired by Mr Didier Lenoir (CPMD Brussels) and Mr Chris Trelawny (Head of Maritime Security Section IMO) it was a good opportunity to reflect on a successful first year of the operation.
The mission of Operation Atalanta has been 3 fold. Firstly, the mission provides close escort protection by EU Naval Force warships to World Food Programme shipments of food from Mombasa into Somalia. To date, EU Naval Force has provided protection to the shipment of over 300,000 tonnes of food, vital to a nation often hovering on the brink of starvation and none have been hijacked. Secondly, the mission is to deter and disrupt piracy and thirdly to protect vulnerable shipping.
The establishment of the International Recognised Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden has been a great achievement in the management and provision of protection to commercial shipping transiting these dangerous waters. Effective communication with the commercial shipping community has been established through the establishment of Maritime Security Centre, Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), a website system that allows EU Naval Force to provide Best Management Practice anti piracy advice to commercial shipping and information in the form of warnings and alerts of pirate threats. The establishment of a secure internet based communications system called Mercury also provides connectivity between EU NAVFOR, NATO and CMF as well as an impressive array of international states such as China, India, Japan and Russia.
Orchestrated by the EU and EU Naval Force, there have been many positive developments amongst, and between, regional nations directly affected by piracy. Positive steps and national recognition of responsibility to assist is evidenced through International agreements that allow regional prosecution of pirates from Kenya and Seychelles and other states are also showing interest in joining them. Sharing of information through the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction Conferences (SHADE), has been extremely successful and this cooperation is bringing together national navies not normally associated with the EU, NATO and CMF. This recognises that this operation is being taken seriously across all nations and the international community is responding positively to the challenge.
This has been a period of success for EU Naval Force and Admiral Hudson, the Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR stated that “while piracy cannot be defeated at sea alone, much is being done in Europe to bring stability to Somalia. We have been very successful in capturing pirates and pirate activity has been severely disrupted”. Also Mr Didier Lenoir CMPD from Brussels, summed up Op Atlanta during his talk to representatives at the Anniversary Day briefings when he said “Op Atlanta is not merely the ships that are provided, Op Atlanta is the core of a very successful mission.”
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Latest comments - Read comments or add your own
comment by Andoni
posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Where is the succes? That year is the worst in the history of the piracy in Somalia; there are a lot of ships hijacked…
comment by Capt.N.Plakas
posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Let the operators of these hijacked ships prove, they have followed the guidelines “Best Management Practices for the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia”, supported by the International Marine Industry
comment by juan
posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago
There are a lot of ships hijacke this last year, pirates are the kings of the Indian Ocean, lot of mother ships sealing free for all ocean in front your eyes ..
Where there is the victory of this mission? Is this a joke?
comment by Mario
posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Allowing more than 1.5 million Somali people beeing fed is more than a succcess. Of course EU NAVFOR will not eradicate piracy itself since the root causes should be tackled ashore. But comparing the few number of ships hijacked (mainly far away from where EU NAVFOR is operating) to the huge number of attacks foiled so far…we can’t do anything else than praise these guys working for security far from their home. So let’s be less critical and congratulation EU NAVFOR
comment by Capt.N.Plakas
posted 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Merchant mariners that have listened to the recommendations and lessons have employed reasonable self-protection measures that discourage or prevent pirates from attempting to take their vessels.
comment by juan
posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Capt.N.Plakas then why NAVFOR is there if only responsability for mariners and owners of fishing and merchant ship? Are the war ships on holidays at the Indian Ocean? Remenber, the NAUFOR ships and NAUFOR crews are the ARMY, not the others.
comment by Capt.N.Plakas
posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago
juan, please ref. to the “Best Management Practices for the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia”, supported by the International Marine Industry.
comment by Savvas
posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Good luck for the next year. I know that a lot of merchant ships are greatful for the EUNAVFOR efforts. Continue with the same pace and strength.
comment by John Harbour
posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago
FROM the SPOKESPERSON EU NAVFOR
This our website and I do not often reply to comments posted.
However, always grateful to get them, even the critical ones. It has been a good year and I can say that, because without EU NAVFOR, and other coalition forces, the situation would be much worse. We must remember that we police over 1.5 million sq miles and even the best police force in the world cannot eliminate crime entirely. No hijackings in the GOA since July and hijackings down considerably form when we first arrived. As seafarers ourselves our thoughts are with the crews and familiies of the hijacked ships and we will do everything in our power to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in that region.
Kind regards
John Harbour