PETRA 1 and AMISOM-RHIB's

EU NAVFOR warship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA left Mombasa’s waters last week to assume the escort of merchant vessel PETRA 1 which carries supplies for the African Union troops operating in Somalia as part of the AMISOM force.

The journey is from Mombasa to Mogadishu and in addition to the ship escort, a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) of Uganda’s Army was embarked on the merchant vessel during the escort to optimise the safety of PETRA I. Once PETRA 1 is unloaded, both ships return back to Mombasa.

The Spanish warship joined EU NAVFOR – Operation ATALANTA on 29 August 2011 as part of the multi-national force combating piracy in the area of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The ships and aircraft are responsible for deterring, preventing and repressing acts of piracy, for the safe escort of ships carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and to protect other vulnerable vessels. Additionally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

AMISOM vessel PETRA 1 being escorted by an EU NAVFOR warship

On 2 June 2011, EU NAVFOR completed its 100^th escort of an AMISOM vessel.

As part of the EU/UN co-operation, EU NAVFOR is providing protection to the UN chartered vessels supplying the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).  AMISOM is mandated to conduct Peace Support Operations in Somalia to stabilize the situation in the country in order to create conditions for the conduct of Humanitarian activities and an immediate take over by the United Nations (UN).

The first AMISOM escort took place on the 6^th February 2009 with the vessel departing Djibouti and arriving in Mogadishu.

On completion of the 100^th escort EU NAVFOR Operation Commander Major General Buster Howes OBE stated: “The successful completion of the one hundredth escort of an AMISOM sustainment shipment today marks a significant milestone for the European Naval Force in Somalia.  The protection of humanitarian and other vulnerable shipping against the scourge of piracy is central to my mission and is of direct benefit to the well-being of the Somali people and the success of the Transitional Federal Government.  I am extremely proud of the men and women of European Navies who prosecute this essential, if unglamorous task”

EU NAVFOR Swedish warship HSwMS CARLSKRONA escorting MV PETRA 1

On 18 October, the EU NAVFOR Swedish warship HSwMS CARLSKRONA completed another grouped escort for both the World Food Program (WFP) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

During three days the MV PETRA I (AMISOM) and the MV MASAR TRADE (WFP) were successfully protected by the warship from Mombasa in Kenya, to Mogadishu in Somalia. The two vessels arrived safely at their destination with humanitarian aid and other logistic supplies. More than 6,700 metric tons food (maize and pulses) were notably delivered onto the Somali shore.

“What we are doing here is very important. Personally I’m very satisfied with our mission and what we do for the people of Somalia”, says LT Victor Lundqvist, a combat information officer onboard HSwMS CARLSKRONA.

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  African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

More stories about EU NAVFOR escorts:

-          WFP escort by EU NAVFOR Dutch ship HNLMS AMSTERDAM

-          EU NAVFOR visits WFP headquarters in Rome, Italy

-          AMISOM escort by EU NAFOR Italian ship ITS LIBECCIO

-          WFP and AMISOM escort by EU NAVFOR French ship DE GRASSE

-          WFP and AMISOM escorts by EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE and FGS SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN

World Food Programme in Mombasa (Kenya)

Thanks to the protection of EU NAVFOR Flagship FS DE GRASSE, both MV MILTZOW, chartered by the World Food Program (WFP), and MV ALFA KIRAWIRA, chartered by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) transited safely from Mombasa to Mogadishu this week.

The WFP shipment on MV MILTZOW delivered 651 tons of Humanitarian Aid to Mogadishu. MV ALFA KIRAWIRA carried important logistics supplies to AMISOM.

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, 84 WFP chartered ships have been safely escorted by EU NAVFOR warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of more than 410,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average more than 1,350,000 Somalis each day.

“Ongoing drought and civil unrest in central Somalia has left 70% of the population in the region in need of humanitarian assistance, explains WFP on its website. [...] One in six Somali children is acutely malnourished – a total of some 240,000 children – the highest acute malnutrition rates anywhere in the world. In south and central Somalia these rates are even higher, reaching one in every five children. [...] Naval escorts continue to be necessary for ships carrying WFP food into Somalia, in order to protect against the threat of piracy.”

EU NAVFOR has also escorted nearly 60 AMISOM logistic vessels running into Mogadishu, to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The European Union Member States support the AMISOM in order to improve, in particular, the efficiency of the Somali Police Force and to combat any abuse and serious violations of Human Rights.

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  African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Picture Gallery:

EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE escorting AMISOM vessel

After ten days chasing and disrupting suspect skiffs in the Gulf of Aden, the French EUNAVFOR Flag ship DE GRASSE headed south to the Somali Basin, to conduct the EU NAVFOR primary task: protection of merchant vessels (MV) chartered by World Food Program (WFP) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Under the coordination of the Force Headquarters Afloat, warships FS DE GRASSE and FGS SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, took over the escort duties of three merchant vessels transiting the area.

FGS SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN left Mombasa, escorting both MV Victoria (WFP) and MV Alfa Kirawira (AMISOM). She dropped off MV Kirawira in Mogadishu, before continuing the protection of MV Victoria, North to the Somali coastal port of Bossasso. FS DE GRASSE escorted MV Alfa Kirawira on the return transit from Mogadishu to Mombasa, before heading North again to Mogadishu, protecting MV Petra I (AMISOM).

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, more than 80 WFP chartered ships have been safely escorted by EU NAVFOR warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of more than 410,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average more than 1,350,000 Somalis each day. “Naval escorts continue to be necessary for ships carrying WFP food into Somalia, in order to protect against the threat of piracy.” (Source: www.wfp.org)

This week, MV Victoria, who was escorted by EU NAVFOR warships, delivered 4,300 tons of maize to Somali.

EU NAVFOR has also escorted nearly 60 AMISOM logistic vessels running into Mogadishu, to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

ITS LIBECCIO

On 29 July, ITS Libeccio and her crew joined Operation Atalanta and the Italian Frigate, under the Command of Cdr Antonio Galiuto, has begun patrolling in the Gulf of Aden Somali basin in support of escorts to the World Food Programme, AMISOM and the fight against piracy.

Initially, the Libeccio was tasked to patrol along the Somali coastline, gathering much needed knowledge on potential pirate activities along that coastline, with an eventual port call planned into Mombasa. ITS Libeccio was subsequently tasked to escort two vessels from the World Food Programme and AMISIOM, out of Mombasa to Mogadishu and Berbera (Somalia) respectively.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of  African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and 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.

EU NAVFOR French warship Nivôse

The EU NAVFOR French warship, FS Nivôse, came under small arms fire on 20 May from the coast in the port of Mogadishu, as the warship provided safe conduct to MV Alpha Kirawira and Petra 1.

In the early hours of Thursday 20 of May, the EU NAVFOR warship FS Nivôse approaching Mogadishu, to begin the escort of MS Alpha Kirawira and Petra 1. Both ships had just unloaded as part of the AMISOM mission in support of the African Union forces in Somalia. Heavy gunfire ashore in the city had already been heard aboard the Nivôse prior to the incident when, just outside Mogadishu harbour small arms water strike was observed as being directed at the warship.

Nivôse responded with warning shots in the direction of the fire and the assault ended. Neither Nirvose nor the two merchant vessels were damaged in the attack. Nivôse then proceeded to escort the two merchant ships to Mombasa.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of  African Unions Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and 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.
Picture gallery:

The merchant vessels Dream-H (left) and Rozen (near right), sailing for UN World Food Programme with humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons in Somalia, was escorted by EU NAVFOR flag ship HSwMS Carlskrona

The merchant vessels Rozen and Dream-H, sailing for UN World Food Programme with humanitarian aid to displaced persons in Somalia, are now safely delivered to Mogadishu after being escorted by EU NAVFOR Swedish flag ship HSwMS Carlskrona.

The flag ship of EU NAVFOR is not only carrying the Force Headquarters, she is also an Ocean Patrol Vessel with a helicopter and a boarding team in addition to own armament. During her first month in the Operation Atalanta she has solved all the different tasks that are normally performed by the units in the force; escorts, patrolling the internationally recommended transit corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden, carrying out surveillance outside the Somali coast and boarding suspected vessels. Last week, she escorted ships for World Food Programme (WFP) and AMISOM, the tasks that are the number one and two on the priority list for EU NAVFOR.

Her latest escort protecting MV Rozen and MV Dream-H loaded with WFP humanitarian aid was a golden opportunity for the Carlskrona boarding team to practice boarding and searching the vessels. This was performed in cooperation with the captains of the merchant vessels.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of  African Unions Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and 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.

Bulk Carrier Yasin C

The Turkish flagged Bulk Carrier YASIN C was hijacked earlier today approximately 250 Nautical Miles east of Mombasa.

The YASIN C, with deadweight of 36 318 tonnes, left the IRTC almost one week ago and was heading to Mombasa. The Turkish owned and operated YASIN C has a crew of 25 and all are believed to be Turkish. It is understood that first reports of the attack on the ship came from the NATO Turkish warship GELIBOLU that received distress calls from  the YASIN C. EU NAVFOR, who works closely with NATO and CMF, continues 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.

Rear Admiral Peter Hudson with MPs Julian Brazier and Julian Lewis.

On the afternoon of Wednesday 17th March EU NAVFOR hosted a visit by two Shadow Ministers from the UK House of Commons.

Mr Julian Brazier MP, Shadow Minister for Transport (Aviation and Shipping), and Dr Julian Lewis MP, Shadow Defence Minister, were greeted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA. The MPs were given a tour of the new Operational Headquarters building, specifically designed for Operations and into which EU NAVFOR moved recently. During their visit they were given a briefing on the operation and EU NAVFOR’s fight against piracy, visiting the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) which also houses the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).

The MPs had the opportunity to meet several of the international staff from many EU member states, including the civilian Merchant Navy representatives who work within MSCHOA. Mr Brazier said, “We are extremely impressed with what we have seen today. The EU NAVFOR has achieved a really impressive reduction in the number of hijacks in the Gulf of Aden.”

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.