After establishing contact with local authorities in Somalia in the early morning of 15 Sep, the details for the handover of the deceased suspect were organized and EU NAVFOR warship BRANDENBURG headed for the Somali coastline.

Somali coast guard officials met the warship off Boosaaso at noon using a small police boat. The body was handed over officially at 12:41 pm local time and was taken back to Somalia.

EU NAVFOR German warship returned to the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) to protect shipping transiting the Gulf of Aden against piracy attacks.

All their pirate equipment (including weapons) has been confiscated and will be destroyed. The body of the suspected pirate who was wounded (and later died of his wounds) remains onboard the warship BRANDENBURG until arrangements to repatriate him are in place. Local authorities in Somalia are being consulted.

EU NAVFOR warship BRANDENBURG

Today the EU NAVFOR German warship BRANDENBURG investigated a suspected pirate skiff with a crew of five in the Gulf of Aden just south of Al Mukalla.

The EU NAVFOR warship launched a helicopter that observed, and filmed, the skiffs crew throwing ladders and weapons overboard. The skiff was ordered to stop but continued on at speed. The EU NAVFOR warship, through an interpreter, exhorted the skiff to stop but the skiff continued. Further warning shots were fired across the bow, the skiff stopped and a team boarded the skiff from a Rhib where weaponry was found. One of the five suspected pirates was wounded in the incident and although he received medical treatment onboard BRANDENBURG, was later pronounced dead.

Though the first priority for the European Union Naval Force ships in Operation Atalanta is the protection of World Food Programme (WFP) vessels delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia, they also support infrastructural measures to increase the capability and capacity of Mogadishu Port.

In the morning hours of August 10th a fleet of six small vessels started its journey of roughly 500 nautical miles (approx. 930 kilometers) from Mombasa in Kenya to one of the main destinations for WFP shipments: Mogadishu Port. The EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG accompanied them to ensure their safe arrival.

What made this escort special was the extremely slow speed, of about four knots (approx. seven km per hour), that the two tugs SOLSTAR and SOLAND were able to tow the massive freight in the environment of southwest monsoon, with strong winds and high waves. Without the presence of a warship ready to counter any pirate attack these vessels would have been like sitting ducks under these circumstances. After a transit lasting one week the small fleet was handed over safely to Mogadishu Port Security and was assigned another tug to cope with the strong current off Mogadishu.

Piers in Mogadishu Port urgently need repairs to be used again as berthing space for WFP shipments. So a Japanese sponsor contracted the ALPHA Group in Mombasa to send a large excavator and barges with tons of building material to Mogadishu Port to facilitate the repairs.

After 4 months in the hands of pirates, HANSA STAVANGER slipped quietly into the port of Mombasa under the watchful eye of the EU NAVFOR ship FGS BRANDENBURG. For the 236 EU NAVFOR soldiers of BRANDENBURG, the task of escorting the trading vessel into port is now complete.

On 3 August 2009 at 17.40 the German container ship was released after 120 days captivity from Somali pirates. On release, the EU NAVFOR ships RHEINLAND-PFALZ and BRANDENBURG arrived at the scene of the container ship’s release, in order to ensure its security and safe passage to Mombasa. EU NAVFOR soldiers went on board immediately, bringing food, water and clothes and a doctor attended to carry out medical examination of the HS crew.  25 helicopter flights were sent to provide supplies for the HANSA STAVANGER.

The general conditions for the crew, after the release by the pirates, were appalling and large areas had to be disinfected and made habitable once more. The pirates robbed the crew of many items of every day use such as clothes, clocks or even toothbrushes. Much kindness was shown by the crew of the EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG who replaced the day to day items that had been stolen. Also simple nautical equipment such as binoculars and radios were made available to the HS, in order to ensure the safe onward voyage to Mombasa.

A substantial component of the assistance provided was medical and dental treatment and this was provided over the next few days on route to Mombasa. In a show of appreciation, the HANSA STAVANGER set the BRANDENBURG flag on her top front mast on arrival in Mombasa.

An EU NAVFOR press conference was carried out in the port of the Mombasa on the ships’ arrival for a large number of journalists. Over sixty representatives from the international media were provided with the latest information about the release of the HANSA STAVANGER and her support from, EU NAVFOR Atalanta. A representative of European Union headquarters in Northwood Lieutenant Commander Peter Benn RN attended with the Commanding Officer of EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG, Torsten Ites.

Since 29 June the FGS BRANDENBURGhas been under the command of the first European Union Naval Force mission Atalanta. On Monday she will sail from Mombasa, in order to return to her EU NAVFOR duties.

EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG leads HANSA STAVANGER safely into Mombasa

Mombasa 09 August 2009

After 4 months in the hands of pirates, HANSA STAVANGER slipped quietly into the port of Mombasa under the watchful eye of the EU NAVFOR ship FGS BRANDENBURG. For the 236 EU NAVFOR soldiers of BRANDENBURG, the task of escorting the trading vessel into port is now complete.

On 3 August 2009 at 17.40 the German container ship was released after 120 days captivity from Somali pirates. On release, the EU NAVFOR ships RHEINLAND-PFALZ and BRANDENBURG arrived at the scene of the container ship’s release, in order to ensure its security and safe passage to Mombasa. EU NAVFOR soldiers went on board immediately, bringing food, water and clothes and a doctor attended to carry out medical examination of the HS crew.  25 helicopter flights were sent to provide supplies for the HANSA STAVANGER.

The general conditions for the crew, after the release by the pirates, were appalling and large areas had to be disinfected and made habitable once more. The pirates robbed the crew of many items of every day use such as clothes, clocks or even toothbrushes. Much kindness was shown by the crew of the EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG who replaced the day to day items that had been stolen. Also simple nautical equipment such as binoculars and radios were made available to the HS, in order to ensure the safe onward voyage to Mombasa.

A substantial component of the assistance provided was medical and dental treatment and this was provided over the next few days on route to Mombasa. In a show of appreciation, the HANSA STAVANGER set the BRANDENBURG flag on her top front mast on arrival in Mombasa.

An EU NAVFOR press conference was carried out in the port of the Mombasa on the ships’ arrival for a large number of journalists. Over sixty representatives from the international media were provided with the latest information about the release of the HANSA STAVANGER and her support from, EU NAVFOR Atalanta. A representative of European Union headquarters in Northwood Lieutenant Commander Peter Benn RN attended with the Commanding Officer of EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG, Torsten Ites.

Since 29 June the FGS BRANDENBURG has been under the command of the first European Union Naval Force mission Atalanta. On Monday she will sail from Mombasa, in order to return to her EU NAVFOR duties.

Thank you for your interest in the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) support to the recently released ship HANSA STAVANGER.

We would like to inform you that the EU NAVFOR warship BRANDENBURG (escorting HANSA STAVANGER) is expected to enter Mombasa harbour on the morning of Saturday 8 August.

You will wish to be aware that a EU NAVFOR press facility will be held locally within a few hours of the ships arrival. EU NAVFOR will be represented by Lt Cdr Peter Benn (Operational Headquarters Public Information Officer) and Cdr s.g. Torsten Ites Commanding Officer EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG.

Lt Cdr Peter Benn can be contacted for further information at email bennpeter@hotmail.com and telephone number +254 722 160967

The Press facility is being organised by Inchcape House, Archbishop Mamarios Close, Moi Avenue, Mombasa, Kenya.

You should be aware that there will be no other press facility onboard the EU NAVFOR ship or in the port area.

Best regards,

on behalf of
Cdr John Harbour
Chief Public Information Office

EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG escorts MV HANSA STAVANGER

European Union Naval Force ship BRANDENBURG escorts MV HANSA STAVANGER to Mombasa.

HANSA STAVANGER is sailing under her own steam and with her own crew.

The German owned container vessel HANSA STAVANGER has been held hostage by Somali pirates since April 4th this year. Following a successful handover of ransom yesterday afternoon, HANSA STAVANGER was released a few hours later.

Shortly after the pirates had left, German crew EU NAVFOR ship RHEINLAND-PFALZ were embarked on the container vessel by helicopter to assess the situation, provide medical aid and logistical assistance and protection.

Simultaneously, the German Frigates RHEINLAND-PFALZ and BRANDENBURG operating in EU-Operation Atalanta approached HANSA STAVANGER.

A variety of essentials, including fresh water, provisions, hygienic products and clothes, was transferred from the German warships to HANSA STAVANGER during the same night. All private belongings of the crew had been taken away by the pirates previously. The crew of HANSA STAVANGER was examined by the medical officer of German Frigate BRANDENBURG and, under the circumstances, the crew of HANSA STAVANGER are in relativly good health.

HANSA STAVANGER will now be escorted by the German Navy to her next port of call.

The German owned and managed bulk carrier, MV VICTORIA, has been released on the morning of 18 July. The Barbados and Antigua flagged ship was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden approximately 120 nautical miles north of Boosaaso in Somalia 5 May.

European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) ships BRANDENBURG and NIKIFOROS FOKAS assisted the ship heading north. The master of MV VICTORIA has reported to the EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG, that all crew members are well and no further medical assistance is required.

EU NAVFOR is now monitoring the vicinity with a Maritime Patrol Aircraft.