German Container ship evades pirate attack in the Indian Ocean

The MV  Lübeck, previously of the China Shipping Container Lines, and now under German ownership, evaded pirate attack in the Somali Basin some  450 nautical miles NE of the Seychelles in the early hours of 11 March.  The ship is a container vessel of 33694 deadweight tonnes and is Liberia flagged.

The Lübeck was en route to Salalah when it was attacked from the rear of the ship, with pirates opening fire with automatic weapons. The ship sustained some minor small arms fire damage to the funnel and crane forward of the ship’s bridge. All personnel are reported to be safe and well. EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation and searching for pirate action groups operating in the area.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

EU NAVFOR destroys more suspected pirate skiffs

EU NAVFOR units operating in the Somali Basin, between the Seychelles and the Somali coast, have discovered more suspected pirate activity.In an area close to the disruption of 5 pirate attack groups by EU NAVFOR at the weekend, EU NAVFOR German warship EMDEN intercepted a suspect pirate group consisting of a mother ship and two skiffs.

The pirate mother ship was first detected in the early hours of 11 March by the EU NAVFOR Luxemburg Patrol aircraft who directed the EU NAVFOR German warship Emden onto the pirate group. On approach by Emden, two small skiffs attempted to flee the scene and pirate paraphernalia consisting of ladders and hooks were seen being jettisoned overboard.  EMDEN’s helicopter eventually rounded up the trio and boarding parties were sent onboard. All suspected pirates have now been returned to the mother ship, one of the skiffs has been sunk and EU NAVFOR ships EMDEN has retained the third skiff as evidence. 

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

French CinC Fleet Visits EU NAVFOR pictured with Captain Larreur ACOS J3

Vice Admiral Betrand Aubriot Commander in Chief of the French Navy, visited the EU NAVFOR OHQ on Thursday 11 March to acquaint himself with the nerve centre of Operation Atalanta.

 Vice Admiral  Aubriot received a briefing on the operation from the senior French Naval Officer, Captain Xavier Larreur, ACOS J3 Operations. The CinC met Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR, the previous evening.

Vice Admiral was briefed on the activities of OP ATALANTA and was brought up to date with the French contribution to the Mission. This contribution has been significant and, since the start of the operation, France has provided 19 warships, and numerous personnel to the OHQ in Northwood. French warships have been fully involved in deterring and disrupting pirate group attacks and, recently, the French frigate Nivos was involved in the capture of 35 pirates in the Indian Ocean. France generally contributes one Frigate and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft to EU NAVFOR.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

Swedish Coast guard Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)

On Monday 8th March, the Swedish Coast guard Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) conducted its first formal mission for EU NAVFOR’s anti piracy operation – Atalanta.

During the next four months one of the Swedish Coast Guard aircraft, a DASH 8, will monitor the waters off the coast of Somalia providing the Force Commander with essential information on the movements of ships in the area.

The Swedish Project Manager of the MPA in Seychelles stated “We have just completed our first flight within the EU NAVFOR and we were in the air for around 6 hours. The flight was diverted because of suspicious activity in a particular area and It turned out to be suspect pirates who were remaining close to a fishing vessel. We were able to alert the Force Commander and document the incident.”

This is the first time a MPA from the Swedish Coast Guard has participated in an international operation of this type. The MPA is a DASH-8 Q-300 equipped with several advanced surveillance systems that makes it one of the worlds’s most advanced sea surveillance aircraft. The MPA is manned by a civilian crew.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

The President, His Excellency Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Op Comd Rear Admiral Peter Hudson

On the evening of 9 March the President, His Excellency Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and his delegation were greeted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR – Operation ATALANTA.

The delegation was given a tour of the new offices occupied by the Operational Headquarters within the purpose built Multi National Headquarters. In addition to receiving a briefing on the operation the delegation visited the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) which houses the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).

His Excellency Sharif Sheikh Ahmed had the opportunity to meet several of the international staff from EU member states and Merchant Navy representatives.

Following the briefings a reception was held where Rear Admiral Peter Hudson presented the President with a gift of a framed photo of the Spanish warship ESPS NAVARRA escorting a World Food Program (WFP) Ship to Somalia.

The President appeared impressed with the Operational Headquarters and the professionalism of the European multinational anti piracy team and recognised the “extensive efforts” of the international community off the coast of Somalia.  He went on to say that a “permanent solution must be found” to resolve the issue of piracy.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

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UBT Ocean

The chemical tanker Marshall Island flagged UBT Ocean hijacked on Friday, is now reported in the vicinity off the pirate stronghold east of Haradere.

UBT Ocean has a crew of 21 and they are all from Myanmar/Burma. UBT Ocean with deadweight of 9,380 tones was heading from United Arab Emirates to Dar Es Salam when hijacked on Friday morning.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

Fishing Vessel SAKOBA

The Kenyan flagged fishing vessel SAKOBA is reported hijacked 400 NM east of Dar Es Salam.

The ship is believed to be Spanish owned. At the moment EU NAVFOR has no information concerning the nationality or number of the crew. The SAKOBA is heading towards Haradere and EU NAVFOR is continuing to monitor the situation.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

EU NAVFOR Italian warship ITS ETNA

Over the weekend of 5 – 7 March, EU NAVFOR units have been involved in concerted operations to interdict and disrupt pirate action groups before they had the opportunity to pirate vessels in the Indian Ocean.

Six pirate action groups have been intercepted, mother ships and skiffs have been destroyed and over 40 pirates have been taken into custody.

As reported by EU NAVFOR on 5 March, the Force Commander of Operation ATALANTA, RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO, onboard the ITS ETNA, tasked the French EU NAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE to intercept and disrupt the pirate attack group, which had previously been repelled by the Vessel Protection Detachment embarked onboard a French vessel. The Nivose intercepted the group of 1 mother ship and 2 skiffs and found pirate paraphernalia in the skiffs including a rocket launcher, grappling hooks and several fuel barrels. The pirates were arrested and the mother ship destroyed.

This was the start of a weekend where the Command ship ITS ETNA, FS NIVOSE and their helicopters and the Maritime Patrol Aircraft from Luxemburg, Spain and Sweden were involved in the disruption of 5 pirate action groups, including the destruction of mother ships and skiffs, and the arrest of over 40 pirates.

During an attack on a French fishing vessel, TORRE GIULIA, two other fishing vessels, TREVIGNON and TALENDUIC came to her rescue. During close contact, the mother ship collided with one of the fishing vessels and sank, and the Fishing vessel immediately stopped to help those in the water to save their lives. Only four pirates were found initially but a search and rescue effort including, an EU NAVFOR Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft, ensured that the remaining two pirates were found and taken onboard the TORRE GIULIA.

The efforts of all units and aircraft in this operation show the determination of EU NAVFOR to fight piracy in the Indian Ocean as well as the Gulf of Aden. Attacks will still happen and hijackings may still take place but this recent success ensures that there were 6 less ships hijacked over the weekend.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

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The Thai Union 3 was hijacked on 29 October last year about 200 miles north of the Seychelles and 650 miles from the Somali coast.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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.

UBT Ocean

A Marshall Island flagged chemical tanker, UBT Ocean, is reported to have been hijacked on Friday morning 300 nautical miles from Dar El Salam.

The Norwegian owned UBT Ocean was not registered on MSCHOA. UBT Ocean has a crew of 21 and they are all from Myanmar/Burma.

UBT Ocean with deadweight of 9,380 tones was heading from United Arab Emirates to Dar El Salam when, yesterday morning, contact with the ship was lost.EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships 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