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European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia - Operation ATALANTA
EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA was launched on 8 December 2008 and is conducted in accordance with United Nations Security Council’s resolutions. The Operation has been extended by the European Council until December 2012 and has the following objectives:
- protect vessels of the World Food Programme, humanitarian aid and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) shipping
- help deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery
- protect vulnerable shipping
- also monitor fishing activities off the coast of Somalia
To date the following countries have contributed to EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (also hosting the EU NAVFOR Operational Headquarters), Lithuania, Latvia as well as non-EU countries such as Croatia, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa
The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) is an initiative established by EU NAVFOR with close co-operation from industry. The MSC-HOA centre provides 24 hour manned monitoring of vessels transiting through the Gulf of Aden whilst the provision of an interactive website enables the Centre to communicate the latest anti-piracy guidance to industry and for Shipping Companies and operators to register their movements through the region.
