Author Archive
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Portuguese Frigate Joins European Forces against Piracy in the Horn of Africa
On Monday 26th March one of Portugal’s largest warships, the Vasco de Gama Class frigate NRP CORTE REAL added its name to the list of EU ships (EUNAVFOR) operating in the Horn of Africa. It will set out immediately on its mission to counter piracy and protect World Food Program (WFP) shipments...
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EU Extends Counter Piracy Mission Off Coast of Somalia
On Friday 23 March 2012 the Council of the European Union confirmed its intention to extend the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) counter-piracy mission, Operation ATLANATA off the Somali coast until December 2014. At the same time the Council also extended the area of operations to include Somali coastal territory and internal...
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European Counter Piracy Naval Forces Strengthened by Two French Warships
As of 23 March 2012 the Counter-Piracy force of the European Union (EUNAVFOR) which normally includes between 4 and 7 warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa will be joined by two new warships of the French navy; Frigate FS GEORGES LEYGUES and Amphibious Assault Ship FS DIXMUDE. FS...
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Prince of Asturias visits EUNAVFOR units in Gulf of Aden
On 21 March 2012, the Spanish Crown Prince, Felipe de Borbon, visited Spanish service men and women deployed as part of EUNAVFOR in the Gulf of Aden. The Prince said he was proud and “full of emotion”, for the outstanding work these Spanish men and women were performing, saying he is aware...
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French Surveillance Jet Aircraft Provides a Boost in Capability to EU Counter-Piracy Forces in Somalia
On 15 March 2012 counter-piracy forces from the European Union will gain another valuable asset with the addition of a Falcon 50 maritime surveillance aircraft from the French Navy. Based from Djibouti, the aircraft has the range to cover the Gulf of Aden and waters off the horn of Africa. Its speed...
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EU NAVAL FORCE Flagship ESPS Patino Holds Successful Media Day in Mombasa 15 March
A media day was held onboard the EU Naval Force Spanish flagship, ESPS PATIÑO alongside Mombasa Port on Thursday 15 March. The event was hosted by the EU Naval Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jorge Manso and the EU’s Head of Delegation in Kenya, Mr. Lodewijk Briёt. They were also accompanied at the...
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EU Naval Force Warships Provide Assistance to Stricken Vessel in Gulf of Aden
Over the past few days EUNAVFOR warships, operating as part of the EU’s counter-piracy mission codenamed Operation ATALANTA, have provided life-saving assistance to a stricken dhow, with 12 crew and 92 passengers onboard, including a pregnant woman and 33 children. The dhow had put out a distress signal on Friday 2 March,...
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EU NAFVOR Disrupts Pirate Action Group
EU NAFVOR warship FGS BERLIN has successfully engineered the release of an Indian flagged dhow and crew, disrupting a Pirate Action Group and destroying two attack skiffs. On 28 February 2012, EUNAVFOR Warship FGS BERLIN received a distress call from a merchant vessel reporting that they had successfully repelled a pirate attack...
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HS HYDRA provides medical aid to a hospital and an orphanage in Mombasa
The Greek EU NAVFOR warship HS HYDRA used its recent port visit in Mombasa, Kenya, to support the Coast Province General Hospital and a local orphanage. In line with local support for countries of the Horn of Africa, HS HDRA provided medical supplies to the hospital. Medical supplies remain a scarce source...
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Spanish warship ESPS INFANTA ELENA joins EUNAVFOR in the Horn of Africa
ESPS INFANTA ELENA, a Descubierta class corvette, joins the EUNAVFOR operation ATALANTA today, 27 February. ESPS INFANTA ELENA, commissioned into the Spanish Navy in April 1980 is a patrol ship of 1200 tonnes. The Spanish ship joins OP ATALANTA operations with the mission to protect vulnerable shipping and World Food Programme vessels,...