EUNAVFOR SPS INFANTA CRISTINA gives assistance to fishermen at sea

On 2 December, the EUNAVFOR Spanish ship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA located a drifting dhow towing a small skiff in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden.

The SPS INFANTA CRISTINA decided to send her boarding team to further investigate the situation. No piracy paraphernalia was found onboard and the crew of the Yemeni-flagged dhow explained to the boarding team that they had some mechanical problems.

Sailors from the SPS INFANTA CRISTINA eventually solved the problem with some oil and tools from the ship.

Before leaving, the EUNAVFOR sailors also provided the Yemeni dhow with enough food and water for their transit back to Yemen.

EUNAVFOR 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). EUNAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. In addition, EUNAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

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The International Sailing Federation expressed her will to increase yachtsmen awareness of the dangers of the area

On 19 October 2010, EU NAVFOR welcomed a delegation of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to its Operational Headquarters (Northwood – UK) in order to provide them with a better understanding of the piracy threat in the Gulf of Aden and in the Somali Basin.

EU NAVFOR wanted to share with the organization’s representatives the evolutions of the threat and of the operation in the area.

“It is true that a yacht is not a vessel of choice for pirates, from an economical point of view, but if they don’t find anything ‘better’, they will just attack the yacht”, explained an intelligence officer from EU NAVFOR. “Do not think that there is a better place, better period, or even better way, to transit in the Horn of Africa. The only safe solution is to avoid transiting it.”

The International Sailing Federation was presented the “Best Management Practices”, recommended to merchant vessels transiting the area, as an illustration of the necessity for self defence in the Horn of Africa.

“It is difficult for big merchant vessel to see a small skiff arriving alongside his vessel. But it is even more difficult for a yacht, with a lower freeboard, especially when the skiff is painted in blue, explained Simon Church, EU NAVFOR’s liaison officer with the merchant navy. Add to this the fact that yachts usually do not have the technical possibility to receive the navigation warnings broadcasted after an attack, and you will understand how dangerous the situation is for them.”

The International Sailing Federation expressed her will to increase yachtsmen awareness of the dangers of the area.

“We do understand the difficulty for naval forces to provide any protection to yachts given their limited assets and their priorities. Our aim is to make sure sailors who want to transit this area are well aware of its dangers and of the framework of the naval forces operations”, concluded the International Sailing Federation.

EU NAVFOR German frigate FGS KÖLN

On the evening of October 3, the EU NAVFOR German frigate FGS KOELN disrupted a suspected pirate skiff which was involved in the chase of a merchant vessel, in the Gulf of Aden.

The MV STAR II while in the Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC), sent a mayday call that she was being chased by a pirate skiff. The Mayday call was intercepted by the EU NAVFOR German warship FGS KOELN, who launched her helicopter to go to the assistance of the merchant vessel.

On arrival of the helicopter at the scene, the suspected pirate skiff gave up the chase of MV STAR II and the occupants of the skiff were seen to be throwing equipment overboard. The helicopter fired warning shots and the skiff stopped.

FGS KOELN arrived and launched its boarding team which found six suspected pirates on board and a large amount of fuel, as all possible incriminating evidence had already been thrown overboard. Excess fuel on board the skiff was seized and, in the absence of evidence, the six suspected pirates were released.

In disrupting the attack, the EU NAVFOR frigate FGS KOELN prevented MV STAR II from a probable pirating.

MV OLIB G

Early on the morning of 8 September, the Merchant Vessel (MV) OLIB G, flagged Malta, was pirated in the East part of the Gulf of Aden.

After report from a merchant vessel that a skiff was approaching MV OLIB G, and after several unsuccessful attempts to make contact with the vessel, the USS PRINCETON warship of Task Force 151 launched its helicopter. The helicopter was able to identify two pirates on board MV OLIB G.

The MV OLIB G was sailing West in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden with a cargo of ballast. The MV OLIB G, deadweight 6,375 tons, has a crew of 18, among which are 15 Georgian and 3 Turkish.

The Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) is an area in which EU NAVFOR (Task Force 465), NATO (Task Force 508) and Combined Maritime Force (Task Force 151) coordinate the patrol of maritime transits. 

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 interacts with regional fishing community

Wednesday 25 August, EU NAVFOR Italian frigate LIBECCIO visited a fishing dhow in the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden. These kind of friendly visits on board non suspected vessels are crucial to collect information about piracy and help create an understanding of EU NAVFOR in the area.

The warship’s boarding team was assisted by an officer from the Djiboutian Navy embarked on board the Italian frigate, as a linguist. EU NAVFOR has recently signed an agreement with the Republic of Djibouti’s Navy to embark sailors on board TF 465 ships as Somali linguists and cultural advisors.

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). EU NAVFOR furthermore protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. Finally, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Third disruption in three days for new EUNAVFOR French Flag Ship DE GRASSE

Yesterday in the Gulf of Aden, on the evening of 19 August, EU NAVFOR Flag Ship FS DE GRASSE disrupted a suspected pirate skiff, making it the third disruption in three days by the Force Command Ship.

A dhow and a skiff were located by a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft while on patrol over the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE at the time was sailing approximately 50 nautical miles from the suspect skiff and proceeded at full speed to the position given by the Japanese aircraft. FS DE GRASSE subsequently launched her Lynx helicopter and boarding party to intercept the skiff.  

Six suspected pirates were found on board the skiff and all paraphernalia of possibly incriminating evidence had been thrown overboard. On completion of a search of the skiff, the suspect pirates were embarked on FS DE GRASSE where subsequent investigations took place. The suspected pirates on board FS DE GRASSE were released and have been able to sail back to Somalia.

The operation was conducted in conjunction with Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, who initially was involved in the pursuit of the dhow. This disruption highlighted the ability of Task Forces to conduct joint operations.

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), 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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EU NAVFOR new Force Commander visits ITS LIBECCIO

Tuesday 17 August, Force Commander Rear Admiral Philippe Coindreau visited the Italian frigate ITS LIBECCIO at sea.

The Force Commander was briefed on the operational capabilities of the warship and those of the special teams embarked for the Operation. He was also presented the explosive ordnance disposal/improvised explosive device disposal (EOD/IEDD) and the “San Marco Regiment” (the Marines of the Italian Navy). Rear Admiral Coindreau was taken on a roundtrip of the operational and living areas of the ship, where he has had the chance to meet and talk with members of the crew.

This visit, planned during a patrol cycle in the Gulf of Aden by both Flag Ship FS DE GRASSE and ITS LIBECCIO, took place just after a successful disruption of a suspicious skiff by the two EU NAVFOR ships.

ITS LIBECCIO is the first EU NAVFOR ship to be visited by the new Force Commander since the handover of the Force Headquarter’s command.

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Destroyer-FS-DE-GRASSE

Today, 18 August 2010, M/V SE VIRIDIAN reported a suspicious skiff heading towards her position, in the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden.

 FS De Grasse was patrolling only 20 nautical miles away and set full speed towards the skiff. Her helicopter took off within a few minutes On arrival of the helicopter over the skiff, the 6 suspected pirates threw part of the equipments overboard. Asked to stop, the suspected pirates did so, first remained calm.

While waiting for De Grasse to arrive, the helicopter finally had to perform two successive warning shots, as the suspected pirates were tying to escape again.Both helicopter and boarding team rhib chased the suspected skiff which eventually stopped.

All remaining equipments were seized and the pirates were provided with sufficient fuel to gain the Somali coast safely on board their skiff.

MV SYRIA_STAR

During the afternoon of 5 Aug 2010, the MV SYRIA STAR reported that she was under attack from pirates who had climbed onboard and fired shots at the crew.  Helicopters were immediately dispatched to the vessel and tried to establish communications with the SYRIA STAR, which had stopped in the water.  They found an abandoned skiff nearby, containing fuel and ammunition.  When warships arrived on the scene shortly after, the SYRIA STAR had reversed course and was heading South East back towards the Horn of Africa under the control of the pirates, who refused to respond to radio contact.

The SYRIA STAR was sailing west in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden with a cargo of sugar.  The SYRIA STAR, deadweight 18, 838 tonnes, is flagged to St Vincent and the Grenadines and has a predominantly Syrian crew, with 22 Syrians and 2 Egyptians.

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.