From left: Col. Beary (EUTM), RAdm.Potts (EU NAFVOR), Gen. Dini (Commander TFG Forces) Gen. Syrén, (CEUMS)

The European Union will remain fully engaged in Somalia: this is the message conveyed in the first week of February by the EU during a visit in Mogadishu by senior representatives operating under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy.

For the first time, General Håkan Syrén, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, Operation Commander of the EU NAFVOR – Operation Atalanta, and Colonel Michael Beary, Commander of the EU Training Mission for Somalia (EUTM), paid a joint visit to the Somali authorities in Mogadishu. They reiterated with the members of the Joint Security Committee, which includes senior representatives from the Transitional Federal Government and regions including Puntland and Galmudug, the EU’s intention to enhance peace and security and to counter piracy in Somalia.

The meetings confirmed the need for closer cooperation with the Somali authorities to further strengthen Somali security forces and to improve law and order, with a view to improve the daily lives of the Somali people. The EU officials also stressed that security gains can only be sustainable when the political process moves forward as well.

“The Somali security concerns are our concerns as well and we need to tackle them together” said Rear Admiral Potts.

The possible upcoming EU civilian mission – augmented with military expertise – to strengthen maritime capacities in the Horn of Africa was also discussed with the Somali partners. Complementing the successful EU NAVFOR Atalanta operation at sea, this mission would, inter alia, assist Somali and regional efforts to counter piracy on land.

HS HYDRA

Following passage south through the Red Sea, the HS HYDRA will join the multi-national EU NAVFOR off the Horn of Africa on 4 February 2012.

HS HYDRA is a MEKO 200HN type multiple role frigate which has been in the service of the Hellenic Navy since March 1992. She has a displacement of 3,350 tons, a crew of 189 and carries an SH-70 Sea Hawk helicopter.

The Greek ship joins EU NAVFOR to protect merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program, other vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean as well as operations to deter and disrupt piracy while monitoring fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Russian Warship

On 31 January 2012, the EUNAVFOR flagship ESPS PATIÑO conducted a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with the NATO Flagship TGN GIRESUN watched by Russian observers before the exercise was repeated by the Russian Flagship Admiral Tributs with the Russian Fleet Tanker Pechenga with NATO and EU NAVFOR observers embarked.

During the morning, the EU NAVFOR and NATO ships demonstrated to several Russian observers on-board the two Flagships a RAS manoeuvre where the ships steer parallel courses only 40 – 50 metres apart while passing fuel between the ships. In the afternoon, the same challenging seamanship exercise was performed by the Russian Task Force units, this time watched by EU NAVFOR and NATO observers.

The exercise was coordinated to improve the interoperability among ships from different forces that operate in the Horn of Africa countering Somali pirates.

During the exercise, all observers had the opportunity not only to discuss this type of underway replenishment manoeuvres, but share their experience and views regarding the counter-piracy operations and the necessity for protecting World Food Programme shipping and the merchant shipping community in general. Following the exercise all those involved agreed that they were much better aware of the differences between the procedures which will greatly improve the support able to be offered between all the ships of the multi-National forces in the region.

Rear Admiral Potts, arrives onboard the Flagship and congratulates the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jorge Manso, on his promotion

 On 27 January 2012, the Spanish Chief of Defense, Admiral Fernando García Sánchez, visited the EU NAVFOR Flagship, ESPS PATIÑO alongside in Djibouti, accompanied by the Spanish Chief of the Navy, Admiral Manuel Rebollo, Chief of the Air Force, General Jose Jimenez Ruiz, Commander of the Joint Command for Operations, Lt. Gen Jaime Dominguez and the EU NAVFOR Operation Commander, Rear Admiral Duncan Potts RN.

The visiting Officers were welcomed onboard ESPS PATIÑO by the newly promoted Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jorge Manso, who briefed them on the missions, challenges and achievements of the Operation. The Chief of Defence addressed the ship’s company on the flightdeck and congratulated them on their continuing efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa and ensure food-aid is safely delivered to Somalia, commenting that they showed “great effort and dedication”.

As part of the visit, the Operation Commander had previously met with Chief of the French Forces, Brig. Gen. William Kurtz to discuss the current situation in Somalia, the support made by Djiboutian Forces to AMISOM, the Transitional Federal Government troops and the options for developing new strategies to combat piracy. Other key engagements were to meet the Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chief of the Djiboutian Navy and the Commander of the Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft Detachment, Lt. Col Pablo, to be briefed on the aircraft capabilities and results.

Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts welcomed Mr. Alexander Rondos

On 23^rd January 2012, EU NAVFOR Operation Commander Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts welcomed Mr. Alexander Rondos, the recently appointed EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa to the Operation Headquarters in Northwood for a briefing on the EU NAVFOR mission and discussed future close cooperation.

Rear Admiral Potts welcomed the Special Representative, saying:

“I look forward to working very closely with the Special Representative. His appointment as part of the European Union’s Comprehensive Approach to the region will be very important in drawing together all EU activity in the region and ensuring it is all synchronised.”

Mr. Alexander Rondos replied:

“This visit to EU NAVFOR – ATALANTA is a very important first step in starting my appointment. My goal is to achieve the whole greater than the sum of the parts involved in the comprehensive approach towards the Horn of Africa. To fulfil my role I am expecting to be guided by the expertise of EU NAVFOR and other specialists. There are serious challenges ahead but also exciting opportunities.”

Mr. Alexander Rondos was appointed EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa in December 2011 and took office on 1 January 2012.

The task of the Special Representative is to actively contribute to regional and international efforts to achieve lasting peace, security and development in the region comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

Initially, the Special Representative was asked by the Council to focus on Somalia and the regional dimensions of the conflict there, as well as on piracy, which has its root causes in the instability of Somalia.

The appointment of a Special Representative forms part of a recently adopted EU Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa, setting out five priorities for EU action: building robust and accountable political structures; contributing to conflict resolution and prevention; mitigating security threats emanating from the region; promoting economic growth, and supporting regional economic cooperation (see Council Conclusions on the Horn of Africa, as adopted by the Council on 14 November 2011 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/11/st16/st1688.en11.pdf ).

FGS LUEBECK and the Indian dhow

After three days of persistent pressure, FGS LUEBECK has forced Somali pirates to release an Indian dhow with 15 Indian mariners held as hostages.

On the 17 January 2012 the EU NAVFOR warship FGS LUEBECK re-located an Indian registered dhow which had been used as pirate mother-ship involved in the attack on M/V FLINTSTONE early the same day. A Dutch Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) stationed on the Dutch-registered civilian fall-pipe vessel had repelled the attack following a gun-fight and caused the attack skiffs to retreat back to the pirate mother ship with injuries to the suspected pirates.

Having positively identified the dhow and sighted the attack skiffs and other pirate paraphernalia on deck of the dhow, FSG LUEBECK approached the dhow demanding that they comply via radio messages.

Released Indian dhow

The vessel did not react to radio calls or to subsequent warning gunshots. Sustained pressure was applied to the dhow through the presence of FGS LUEBECK including direct shots fired into the bow of the dhow and use of the ship’s helicopter to neutralise the attack skiffs secured on the upper deck.

Throughout the action the safety of the hostages was the primary consideration, especially as the suspect pirates threatened to kill all crew members and to fire on anyone attempting to board the dhow.

During the night of 19 January 2012, FGS LUEBECK established control of the situation to allow the M/V ENRICO IEVOLI, an Italian tanker which had been pirated in December 2011, and has 18 hostages onboard to rendezvous with the Indian dhow. On arrival the pirates again threatened that they would harm all the hostages if any military action was taken to prevent a transfer of pirates who had been injured during the initial attack on the M/V FLINTSTONE.

The FGS LUEBECK maintained an overt presence and following the transfer, was able to board the Indian dhow to assure the health and safety of the crew as well as providing technical assistance. The 15 released crewmembers were all in good health. This action has denied the suspect pirates the use of the dhow as a mother-ship and freed the crew from what could have become months of captivity. The injured suspected pirates were seen to have transferred to the M/V ENRICO IEVOLI which is being shadowed as it returns towards Somalia.

Fuel transferred by barrel to the Iranian dhow

On 17 January 2012, following coordination with a Danish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft operating on a search mission for pirate ships, the Spanish Combat Supply Ship SPS PATIÑO, Flagship of  Operation ATALANTA, assisted an Iranian flagged dhow which had run out of fuel off the Somali Coast.

The 11 man crew of the dhow, which was carrying a mixed load of cargo, expressed their thanks to the EU NAVFOR team for the fuel which was transferred by crane, before departing en-route to the nearest port.

EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation ATALANTA’s tasks are to escort ships carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, and  to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Transferring fuel

Suspected pirates surrender

It has been confirmed that the Spanish judicial authorities will prosecute the six Somali suspected pirates, who attacked the EU NAVFOR Flagship, the ESPS PATINO on 12 January. Following receipt of the evidence package, the Spanish Audiencia Naciona has confirmed it will undertake judicial proceedings. The suspected pirates will be transferred from the Flagship ashore for onward movement to Spain.

The suspects attacked the ESPS PATINO in the vicinity of Mogadishu following the successful escort of a World Food Programme ship carrying humanitarian-aid into Somalia and attempted to climb onboard having fired light-calibre weapons into the superstructure. The embarked detachment of Spanish Marines returned fire in self-defence and the ship’s Seaking helicopter was launched to track the skiff and the occupants surrendered.

Suspected pirates surrender

Following a detailed assessment of the dawn attack on the ESPS PATINO on 12 January 2012, the political decision has been made to hand-over the evidence pack for consideration by the courts for prosecution in Spain. The suspected pirates have all been given medical treatment for injuries sustained during their attack and two of the suspected pirates will require additional medical treatment once they have been landed. They are all currently stable and in no medical danger onboard the ESPS PATINO.

The group of suspect pirates made their attack while the Flagship was in the vicinity of Mogadishu following the escort of a World Food Programme ship carrying food-aid into Somalia. They attempted to climb onboard having fired light-calibre weapons into the superstructure to try to make the ship stop however the detachment of Spanish Marines, embarked for Force Protection Duties, returned fire in self-defence, forcing the suspected pirates to break-off their attack. The ship’s Seaking helicopter was subsequently launched to track the skiff and the occupants surrendered. A search was instituted for a seventh man who was alleged by the suspected pirates to have been lost overboard from the skiff during their attack however, no evidence has been found to confirm this claim.

Constant vigilance

Anticipating that the pirates will not take a break over the holiday period, neither will the EU NAVFOR units patrolling around the Horn of Africa and in the Somali Basin.

Whilst back at home in Europe the families of the deployed EU NAVFOR personnel celebrate this very special season of the year, the crews of all ships and aircraft of the entire EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA Task Force off the coast of Somalia maintain their guard at sea and continue with their duty of securing the safe transport of food to the people of Somalia. With this decision, the Naval Force underlines the commitment of the European Union to ensure the safe arrival of humanitarian aid, so desperately needed by thousands of suffering Somali people. In addition to the escorting of merchant vessels chartered by the World Food

Boarding of a skiff

Programme, EU Naval Forces also continue to counter the threats imposed by Somali pirates on the international shipping community in a combined effort with other multinational Naval Forces in Indian Ocean. Currently, out of the 27 Nations contributing to the Operation, Sailors and soldiers from 13 different nations will be active at sea in Operation ATALANTA, maintaining the force at the highest readiness level.

EU NAVFOR conducts counter-piracy in the Indian Ocean and is responsible for the protection of World Food Program ships carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Somalia and the logistic support vessels of the African Union troops conducting Peace Support Operations in Somalia. Additionally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

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