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.
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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.

VPD on watch on MV Masar Trade

On the 28th of January, the World Food Programme (WFP) Motor Vessel M/V MASAR TRADE started her transit north from Mogadishu to Berbera, a port in northern Somalia, in order to deliver goods and humanitarian aid.

At the beginning of her transit, she was escorted by the EUNAVFOR Greek warship HS SALAMIS. On 6th of February, the EU NAVFOR German warship FGS EMDEN took over this responsibility, in proximity of Socotra Island, and escorted the M/V to the northern Somali port of Berbera. On completion of cargo unloading, the vessel was escorted back to southern Somalia by EMDEN.

During both escorts, EUNAVFOR Warship FGS EMDEN transferred a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) to the M/V MASAR TRADE. VPDs provide extra protection to these slow vulnerable ships whilst sailing the pirate infested waters off Somalia.

Under protection of the Naval Forces there were no incidents during both transits along the coast.The master of M/V MASAR TRADE was grateful for the assistance provided by EUNAVFOR and stated that “It is the first time that I have felt safe while sailing in Somali waters”.

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. EUNAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

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ITS ETNA and MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA

On the afternoon 11th February, EU NAVFOR Warship ITS ETNA successfully completed her first escort in ATALANTA Operation.

The AMISOM chartered vessel, M/V ALPHA KIRAWIRA, was escorted from Mombassa to Mogadishu for four days, guaranteeing the safe arrival of humanitarian aids to Somalia and material for AMISOM troops based in Mogadishu.

EU NAVFOR Warship ITS ETNA will wait in waters off Mogadishu for the unloading of M/V ALPHA KIRAWIRA, expected on the morning 12th February, and will provide further protection to the merchant vessel on the way back to Mombassa.

EU NAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA escorted by FS SURCOUF

On the 20th of January, EUNAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF  successfully completed the escort of AMISOM chartered cargo vessel ALPHA KIRAWIRA, Sierra Leone flagged, from MOGADISHU to MOMBASA.

FS SURCOUF met MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA at sea on the 17th of January, off the coast of Mogadishu. The MV on leaving the port sailed south along the coast under the close protection of the EUNAVFOR ship. The three day journey passed without incident but SURCOUF crewmembers remained vigilant and ready to face any possible threat during the transit.

EUNAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

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Navarra escorting Alpha Kirawira

EU NAVFOR successfully escorted MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA from Mombasa (Kenya) to Mogadishu (Somalia). MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA, Sierra Leone flagged RoRo vessel, chartered by UNSOA (United Nations Support Office for AMISOM), left Mombasa on December 31st where she met EU NAVFOR warship ESPS NAVARRA and made her way to Mogadishu.

Another EU NAVFOR warship, FS CDT L’HERMINIER, took over the escort during the transit and handed her over to AMISOM just prior to the entrance to the port of Mogadishu. The cargo vessel is capable of delivering up to 1,800 deadweight tonnage in cargo and has a capacity of 1,500 cubic meters  of liquid cargo.

With this successful escort EU NAVFOR accomplished one of it’s  main tasks: to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Somalia. EU NAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA’s other main tasks are to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

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FGS BREMEN escorting MV DELVINA

On the morning of Monday 21 December, the EU NAVFOR warship FGS BREMEN, completed her successful escort of the MV DELVINA .

The MV DELVINA, a Greek owned (Marshall Island flagged ship) bulk carrier, that had been released on 17 December, was escorted by the BREMEN over the last few days and has now arrived in Mombasa (KENYA). MV DELVINA, with a crew of 21 and deadweight of 53.629 tons, was hijacked by a pirate group on the 5th of November and held at HARADERA, on the south Somali Coast.

At the same time, the BREMEN escorted the AMISOM (UNSOA) chartered (Sierra Leone flagged ship) cargo carrier named the MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA. The MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA was transiting from Mombasa to Mogadishu and then returned.

EUNAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aids of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

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Escort of MV Alpha Kirawira to Mogadishu

Despite increased tension in Mogadishu and a heightened pirate threat, the EU NAVFOR warship Louise-Marie escorted African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) ship Alpha Kirawira from Mombasa to Mogadishu.

On 29 November EU NAVFOR Belgian warship Louise-Marie was tasked to escort the 1274-ton merchant vessel Alpha Kirawira from Mombasa to Mogadishu. A routine job for the Louise-Marie, but due to high tension and increased threat, the escort was risky and perilous.

The Kenyan built MV Alpha Kirawira participates in the AMISOM-program. Her cruising speed is just 7 knots which makes her a vulnerable ship to pirate attacks.

The EU NAVFOR warship Louise-Marie ensured a safe transit for the MV Alpha Kirawira by using her helicopter and long range sensors, implementing force protection measures and manoeuvring in order to be able to react quickly and to protect the vulnerable ship. On arrival on 1 December in the vicinity of Mogadishu, extra precautions were taken by EU NAVFOR warship Louise-Marie due to the risks of attack and finally MV Alpha Kirawira arrived safely in Mogadishu.