MV QSM Dubai

In the early hours of 2 June it was reported by the owner of the MV QSM Dubai that a group of armed pirates had boarded the ship and taken control. USS COLE from CTF 508 (NATO) first reported that they had seen a person with an RPG on board. A coalition Maritime Patrol Aircraft was tasked to investigate the situation and reported that the ship was hijacked.

The MV QSM Dubai, a Panama flagged general cargo ship with dead weight of 15,220 tonnes and a crew of 24 comprising Egyptian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Ghanaian nationals, was in bound from Brazil when hijacked in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor.

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.

MV PANEGA

EU NAVFOR can confirm that the hijacked MV PANEGA has now arrived off the coast of Somalia and is anchored in the vicinity of Garacad.

MV PANEGA was hijacked on the afternoon 11th of May in the Gulf of Aden approximately 100 nautical miles east of Aden (Yemen). The ship was on route from the Red Sea to India when she was attacked by pirates.

MV PANEGA with a dead weight of 5,848 tones, has a crew of 15, all Bulgarian. EU NAVFOR will continue to monitor the situation.

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.

Iceberg 1

Reports have been received by EU NAVFOR that the MV Iceberg 1 has been hijacked 10 nautical miles off the port of Aden, Yemen, outside the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

The Iceberg 1 is a Panama Flagged, Roll on Roll Off vessel with deadweight of 4500 tonnes. The vessel, with a crew of 24 and carrying a mixed cargo of general mechanical equipment, was bound for Jebel Ali in the UAE when hijacked. The crew consist of persons from Yemen, India, Ghana, Sudan, Pakistan and the Philipines.

The last contact with the vessel was the master stating to his owner that pirates were onboard. The vessel appears to be heading towards the Somali coast. EU NAVFOR units are monitoring the situation.

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.

The hijacking took place approximately 120 nautical miles off the coast of Oman and 180 miles south of Mazera. MV TALCA was heading from Sokhna in Egypt to Busheir in Iran. It had already passed through the International Recommended Transit Corridor, which is patrolled by warships and maritime patrol aircraft from EU NAVFOR, NATO, Combined Maritime Forces and other navies. Twenty-three of the crew are from Sri Lanka, one from the Philippines and one from Syria. MV TALCA has dead weight of 11 055 tonnes. EU NAVFOR will continue to monitor the situation.

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.

HMSwS Carlskrona on her way

At 11.00 on the 13 of March, the next Flagship of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, the Swedish Warship HMS CARLSKRONA, departed from Karlskrona in the south of Sweden.

It was a sunny morning with a blue sky but some ice remained on the water. Soon the conditions will be very different with temperatures around +30 degrees. On board CARLSKRONA the next Force Commander, Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Jan Törnqvist, will be embarked and take command of the FHQ EU NAVFOR  on 14th April.
 
Before the ship sailed the OHQ representative, Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauza, took part in the traditional prayers in the Admiralty Church in Karlskrona for the ship’s crew. Thereafter, a short press conference was held on board the ship. Rear Admiral Bauza, in talking to the members of the press, expressed the gratitude of the European Union for Sweden’s contribution to EU NAVFOR operation Atalanta. He stated that “The Force Commander, the ship and its crewmembers are well prepared to fulfil their mission off the coast of Somalia.” Rear Admiral Bauza also said that EU NAVFOR is grateful for the Swedish Coastguard, the Maritime Patrol Aircraft, deployed since 8 March and already contributing greatly to the disruption of pirate attack groups.
 
On departure, HMS CARLSKRONA was escorted by the Corvette HMS STOCKHOLM that participated in Sweden’s previous contribution to EU NAVFOR last year.
 
HMS CARLSCRONA will proceed to the Gulf of Aden, where RAdm (LH) Thörnqvist is to relieve the present Force Commander Rear Admiral Giovanni Gumiero onboard the EU NAVFOR Italian warship ITS ETNA who has been controlling operations in the area for the last four months. The ships will meet in the Gulf of Aden in the middle of April and formally hand over command of the EU NAVFOR Task Force.
 
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.

Photo Gallery:

Rear Admiral Peter Hudson with Major General Li Ning (left)

On the afternoon of 2 March, EU NAVFOR hosted a visit by the Major General Li Ning, Defence Counsellor Chinese Mission to the European Union.

The Chinese delegation was greeted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA. The delegation was given a tour of the new Operational Headquarters building, specifically designed for Operations and into which EU NAVFOR moved recently. During their visit the Chinese delegation was 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).

Maj Gen Li Ning had the opportunity to meet several of the international staff from many EU member states. He also met the civilian Merchant Navy representatives who run MSCHOA and who work alongside their military colleagues.
The Chinese delegation was extremely impressed with the Operational Headquarters and the professionalism of the European multinational anti piracy team. The Head of delegation stated that he “looked forward to continuing the excellent cooperation with EU NAVFOR and other coalition partners and to strengthening the bonds of friendship between EU NAVFOR and the Chinese task force 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.

Picture Gallery:

Helo Panther and Nivôse's crewmembers patrolling

On 17th of February, FS NIVÔSE left her home port of La Reunion to join the European Naval Force Somalia – Operation ATALANTA (EU NAVFOR).

On leaving port, the warship performed an intense series of drills and training serials to prepare the crew for the demanding anti piracy task ahead in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. This is the second time that FS NIVÔSE has participated in Operation Atalanta. Last year the ship was involved in the arrest of 11 pirates after the 21,000 tonne Liberia flagged MV SAFMARINE ASIA came under sustained small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack from two skiffs that were operating in close company with a mother ship. In a separate incident, the arrest of another 11 pirates took place with the cooperation of a EU NAVFOR Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

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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Suspected pirates

Recent photographic evidence from anti piracy coalition forces show that pirates continue to roam the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in search of prey.

Earlier today a coalition helicopter photographed suspicious skiff activity in the Gulf of Aden in the middle of the IRTC and other suspicious activity has been witnessed by EU NAVFOR units.

An alert has been issued to all ships in the area and Masters of merchant vessels have been warned to keep a good lookout and adopt best management practice (BMP) when transiting through the area in accordance with the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) MSCHOA website www.mschoa.org.

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.

Car Carrier Asian Glory

The UK Flagged M/V ASIAN GLORY, hijacked on 1 January in the Somali Basin, is understood to have put to sea from its anchorage in Heredeere late yesterday and conducted logistical pirate transfers further south, off the Somali coast.

EU NAVFOR can confirm that ASIAN GLORY has returned to its anchorage and remains under the control of pirates. Contact with the owner confirms these details and show recent claims of ransom payments and the ships release to be untrue. The owner also confirms that all the crew remain well.

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.