HMNOS Fridtjof Nansen

On the afternoon of Wednesday 13 January the non-European Union member in EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN returns home after six months on anti piracy patrol.

The last six months have been particularly busy for the ship conducting various tasks including escorting ships of the UN World Food Programme, protecting more vulnerable vessels and deterring and disrupting piracy in the Gulf of Aden and also the Somali Basin. Fridtjof Nansens contribution, especially as a non EU Member State, has been extremely welcome in helping to deal with a difficult and persistent international problem off Somalia. 

Rear Admiral Peter Hudson, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR stated “I am extremely grateful for Fridtjof Nansen’s outstanding contribution to the EU Naval Force and, as a fundamental part of TF 465, the ships and crew have made a telling impact on the operation by reassuring the merchant community of the EU resolve”.

FRIDTJOF NANSEN and the crew are now on their way back to Norway, where they are expected to arrive in the end of January. Commander SG, Ole Morten Sandquist, the ships Commanding officer sais that “It has been very motivating and encouraging to work in such a fine international environment with our companions in the European Union. It is therefore with mixed feelings that we are leaving the force today”.

On the afternoon of Wednesday 13 January the non-European Union member in EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN returns home after six months on anti piracy patrol.

Picture Gallery:

EU NAVFOR - Fridtjof Nansen helps released Crew

On the evening of 26 November 2009, the owner of the 142 foot long Indian Dhow Shree Narayan, previously reported being hijacked by Somali pirates on 18 November 18, confirmed by telephone the pirates had left the vessel.

The pirates intended to use the Dhow as mother vessel to commit further acts of piracy but released the vessel because of a lack of food and water onboard.

EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship Fridtjof Nansen, was tasked to search for her, to check if the 14 Indian crew members on board needed assistance or medical support.

EU NAVFOR - Fridtjof Nansen helps released Crew

On the morning of 27 November Fridtjof Nansen found the vessel and a team was invited on board. The Indian crew was in good health but lacked food and fuel. EU NAVFOR warship Fridtjof Nansen provided vital supplies after which the Indian Dhow was able to proceed to their next port of call. The Indian crew were extremely grateful for the support and assistance from EU NAVFOR.

All the mariners were very grateful to the ships crew for rescuing them

On Friday 13 November, during an anti piracy patrol mission in the Indian Ocean, 9 Somali fishermen were picked up by EU NAVFOR warship HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN.

The stranded mariners were found more than 200nm from shore, had no food or water and only a limited amount of fuel left. They were clearly exhausted from their experience after spending days drifting at sea and, without FRIDTJOF NANSEN’s intervention, these individuals would probably have perished.

The 9 fishermen have now been given medical checks, food and water. With sleep and rest they are all now all well although slightly shaken from their frightening experience.  Commander Senior Grade Ole Morten Sandquist stated that “these people were very luck on what is normally the mariners unluckiest day, Friday 13th.” 

All the mariners were very grateful to the ships crew for rescuing them and saving their lives. After final medical checks, they were put ashore yesterday near the village of Xabo on the Horn of Africa.

Picture Gallery

The first attack was on MV FULL STRONG, a Hong Kong flagged 220 meter long Bulk Carrier. MV FULL STRONG was approached by pirates in 2 skiffs and a mother skiff but managed to evade the attack.

Shortly after this attack, in almost the same position, MV FENGLI 8, a Panama flagged 225 meter Bulk Carrier was attacked in two fast attack skiffs and one mother skiff. The master and crew were alert and immediately activated anti piracy measures (according to MSCHOA Best Management Practices) and, with speed and evasive action, they were able to avoid being hijacked.

EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship HNOMS Fridtjof Nansen on counter piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden has been tasked to search for the pirate attack group.

HNOMS Fridtjof Nansen takes part in the EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA. The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

The EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN in close cooperation with CTF 151

A meeting of the SHADE Group met in Bahrain on 29 Sept 2009 to discuss practical aspects of counter-piracy off the coast of Somalia.

SHADE was established in December 2008 as a means of sharing ‘best practice’, conduct informal discussions and deconflict the activities of those nations and organisations involved in military counter-piracy operations in the region. Initially, SHADE participation involved the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain, the European Naval Force EU NAVFOR and NATO but it grew quickly to include many regional nations and other navies operating under independent mandates, such as China, India, Japan and Russia.

SHADE is a voluntary international military group that meets on a monthly basis in Bahrain.  In all, 26 nations were present, along with 3 Coalitions and representatives from industry. This meeting welcomed Ukraine as the newest participant.

A number of good examples of practical coordination at sea were highlighted in the meeting.

• On 24 July the EU NAVFOR Italian warship MAESTRALE with the NATO Turkish warship GEDIZ and the Indian warship GODAVARI worked closely together to deter a possible pirate attack.
• On 22 August, when in a combined action including EU NAVFOR ships, fast rhibs, a helicopter and a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft, a suspected pirate skiff was stopped and disarmed. (-> read more)
• On 26 August EU NAVFOR ship FRIDTJOF NANSEN and a helicopter, in cooperation with a South Korean navy helicopter from CTF 151 responded to an emergency call. (-> read more)
• On Wednesday 26th of August the commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Commodore Pieter Bindt RNLN (CTF 465) met with Rear Admiral Scott Sanders USN, Commander of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) on board the CTF 151 flagship USS ANZIO (CG68). (-> read more)

The meeting achieved broad consensus on a set of terms of reference, agreed to explore opportunities to coordinate logistics and resources, commissioned further work on improving communications with merchant shipping and campaign effectiveness.

SHADE achievements over the last 9 months include:

• Establishment of an Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden, which was endorsed by IMO in July 2009
• Development of the IRTC Coordination Guide
• Agreement on the utility of a common geographical reference system
• Support for the innovative military communications system MERCURY, which allows all SHADE participants to coordinate together in real time
• Emergence of coordinated focused operations off the coast of Somalia
• Improving coordination with industry
• Command opportunities and assets being shared across SHADE participants – e.g. Singaporean and Turkish commanders operating from US warships

Photo by Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker, PAO CTF 151 on board USS ANZIO

USS ANZIO (CG 68), Gulf of Aden – On Wednesday 26th of August the commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Commodore Pieter Bindt RNLN (CTF 465) met with Rear Admiral.

Scott Sanders USN, Commander of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) on board the CTF 151 flagship USS ANZIO (CG68). The meeting was held to deepen the cooperation between the two task forces to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy on the waters surrounding Somalia.

Established in December 2008, EU NAVFOR is an European Union Task Force established to protect vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia, to protect vulnerable vessels sailing through the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast and to deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, including arrest.

Presently, there are approximately 30 ships from 17 different nations conducting counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia as part of EU NAVFOR, NATO, CTF 151,  or independently, like China, Russia, Malaysia and India. These naval forces have a common goal: to actively deter, disrupt and suppress acts of piracy. The outbreak of piracy and its threat to commerce, regional security, and perhaps most importantly, freedom of navigation is something that leaders worldwide are concerned about.

Force Commander of EU NAVFOR and CTF 151 emphasized that cooperation is the key to successful counter-piracy in the region. “,” said Sanders. “What is amazing is that a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) detects a suspect skiff, then a Dutch  helicopter from EU NAVFOR unit HNLMS Evertsen does an interception and Norwegian fast boats from EU NAVFOR unit HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN conducts the actual boarding,” said Bindt. “You can read about this, but when you see it actually happening, the level of cooperation is remarkable.”

The EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship HNOMS Fridtjof Nansen in close cooperation with CTF 151

An EU NAVFOR ship and helicopter, in cooperation with a South Korean navy helicopter  from CTF 151 responded to an emergency call from MV SOUTHERN CROSS. The attack was successfully thwarted by the SOUTHERN CROSS herself. The EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN subsequently boarded a suspect skiff in the vicinity.

In the late morning of 26 August the EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN received an emergency call form the Italian M/V SOUTHERN CROSS that she was under attack from pirates. The SOUTHERN CROSS was transiting the Gulf of Aden, some 80 nautical miles south of Al Mukkala.

HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN and the helicopter of the South Korean warship DAEJOYOUNG from CTF 151 responded directly to the situation. While the FRIDTJOF NANSEN and the helicopter were approaching, the skiff with five people on board broke off the attack after having fired several shots to the pilot house of SOUTHERN CROSS and escaped to the south.

The EU NAVFOR German warship FGS BREMEN also launched her helicopter to join the search for the pirate skiff. In the afternoon FGS Bremen’s helicopter detected a suspicious skiff. HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN launched her fast rhibs with her boarding team and conducted a boarding. Weapons were seen thrown overboard. The skiff was released at dusk.

In a combined action including EU NAVFOR ships, fast rhibs, a helicopter and a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft, a suspected pirate skiff was stopped and disarmed.

In the morning of 22 August, a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft detected and reported a suspect skiff in the Gulf of Aden, some 80 nm east off Aden. The aircraft observed 7 persons on board, a ladder and large amounts of fuel. The skiff was approximately 5 nm away from passing merchant vessels. The Norwegian EU NAVFOR warship HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN reacted immediately and set course to the suspect skiff, launching her two fast rhibs to prepare for boarding. The Netherlands EU NAVFOR warship HNLMS EVERTSEN immediately launched her helicopter to close and follow the skiff until arrival of the Norwegian fast rhibs.

When the first skiff tried to get away, HNLMS EVERTSEN’s helicopter fired warning shots to stop the skiff. On observing the shots the skiff stopped and was subsequently boarded by FRIDTJOF NANSEN’s boarding team.   Due to lack of positive evidence of a pirate attack the skiff and its crew were finally released.   The discovered ladders, rifles and rocket propelled grenades were seized and disposed of.

HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN

Saturday, 1 August, the Norwegian frigate HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN sails from Norway to take part in EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta.

After six months of preparations, the Norwegian contribution to European Union Naval Force EU NAVFOR is underway towards the area of operations in the Gulf of Aden. Hard work has given the newly built frigate FRIDTJOF NANSEN the ability to successfully protect trade routes and UN World Food Programme shipments.

Norwegian minister of Defence, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, spoke of the importance of the contribution to the operation.

“This is an important contribution to the safeguarding of UN’s food programme shipments, and also to secure the trade routes in the area”, said the minister prior to the departure.

The Norwegian vessel is a specialized contribution coming from a country that is not a member of the European Union. In addition to the core crew there are also facilities for boarding operations, military police, legad, surgical capacities and translators onboard.

Admiral Peter Hudson, the OP Commander welcomed the new addition to the EU Naval Force and was delighted that Norway is contributing in this way.

HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN will be part of EU NAVFOR for six months.