Schleswig-Holstein on patrol

In the early hours of 28 June, pirates took control of the MV Golden Blessing approximately 90 nautical miles off the northern Somali coast. On notification from the Master of the MV Golden Blessing that pirates were on board, the EU NAVFOR German warship Schleswig-Holstein immediately launched their helicopter and reported sighting suspected pirates on board the MV Golden Blessing.

The MV Golden Blessing, a Singapore flagged tanker with deadweight of 14445 tonnes, was carrying a cargo of glycoethelen. The MV Golden Blessing has a crew of 19 Chinese; there are no reports of injuries. The vessel is under pirate control and is now moving towards the  Somali Coast. EU NAVFOR is monitoring.

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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EU NAVFOR Force Commander Rear Admiral Jan Thornqvist (left) presents the EU NAVFOR crest to Rear Admiral Beom Rim Lee

The EU NAVFOR Force Commander hosted the Force Commander of Task Force 151, the Combined Maritime Force off Somalia, on board the EU NAVFOR Flag Ship HSwMS Carlskrona on Monday 31 May 2010.  The Force Commanders expressed content with the very good level of co-operation between the two forces and agreed on further development.

The Force Commander of Combined Maritime Force (CMF) Task Force 151, Rear Admiral Beom Rim Lee expressed his satisfaction regarding the good level of co-operation between the forces off Somalia.  He also expressed hope for enhanced co-operation with the single-nation forces in the area – China, India, Japan and Russia.

Discussions took place on anti piracy operations in the Somali Basin and the Gulf of Aden, as well as on the coordination of the forces patrolling in the IRTC (the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor).  Both commanders expressed content with the level of co-operation with the third multinational force; the NATO Task Force 508.

The possibility of exchange officers between the two forces was also discussed; EU NAVFOR Force Commander Rear Admiral (LH) Jan Thörnqvist welcomed the idea as a way of further developing the relationship between the forces. The issue will be discussed further.

Force Commander TF 151 Rear Admiral Beom Rim Lee and his delegation were given a tour of the flag ship and the EUNAVFOR Force Headquarters Maritime Operations Centre (FHQ MOC), of particular interest was the helicopter solution on board HSwMS Carlskrona.

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.

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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.

Danish warship HDMS Absalon

The hijacked M/V Asian Glory put to sea on Friday 29 January from the Somali coast and headed south to rendezvous with suspected pirate groups in the Indian Ocean. On Saturday 30 January, she headed north and eventually made a rendezvous with the hijacked Dhow Faize Osamani.

The Faize Osamani was last reported leaving Karachi, bound for Mogadishu with a cargo of rice, on 28 November 2009. The ship’s Master, an all crew Indian crew of 14, reported to the owner that the ship had been hijacked on 6 January 2010 off Kismayo on the Somali coast. The pirated Faize Osamani was spotted by EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) approximately 150 nautical miles North East of Socotra, off the Horn of Africa and appeared to be dead in the water.

At the rendezvous position, the Asian Glory remained close by until the pirates from the Faize Osamani transferred to Asian Glory after which she got under way and headed for the Somali coast. Whilst EU NAVFOR MPA monitored the situation, a coalition force ship, HDMS Absalon of NATO TF 508 came to the assistance of the Faize Osamani and rendered medical and engineering assistance. After some small repairs and minor medical attention, the Faize Osamani proceeded on her voyage.

Asian Glory has arrived at the Somali coast once more and is thought to be anchored off the port of Garacad, north of Hobyo.

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.

M/V FELITSA refuelling

The Bulk Carrier Filitsa, hijacked in the Somali Basin on 11 November 2009, has been released after payment of a ransom.  The Marshall Island Flag Filitsa, with her crew of 22 (19 Filipino and 3 Greek) had been held at the pirate stronghold of Hobyo, on the Somali coast.

Before proceeding on her way the ship required fuel to continue her journey. EU NAVFOR Greek warship Salamis, who was in the area at the time, provided support to the ship and barrels of fuel were transferred.The crew were confirmed to be well and the ship has now continue her voyage.

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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Captain (N) Richard Farrington of the EU NAVFOR received the Award (middle)

On Wednesday 9 September, the winners of the Lloyd’s List Global Awards were presented wtih their trophies at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. EU NAVFOR was presented with the Lloyds List Innovation Award for the excellent contribution they give to security and safety of Merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden by hosting the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) website www.mschoa.org.

There were a number of other award categories, for example Training Award, Shipping Lawyer of the year, Shipmaster of the Year, Safety at Sea etc. EU NAVFOR won the category “Innovation” that complements the previous award for the MSCHOA website that EU NAVFOR received from Safety at Sea International Awards in June 2009.

The web-based service has been created to assist ships that transit the Gulf of Aden, Horn of Africa and the Somali Basin, to provide assurance against piracy in the region by coordinating maritime forces to protect shipping. It has been developed in consultation with the IMB, IMO, UKMTO and Merchant Navy Liaison Officers.

Captain (N) Richard Farrington of the EU NAVFOR received the Award from the master of ceremonies Alistair Campbell and stated:

“We are delighted with this prestigious award. European Union Naval Force, EU NAVFOR, the first European Union maritime naval force is working alongside with our colleagues from NATO, Combined Maritime Forces and several navies to combat piracy. MSCHOA is an important tool in our efforts to work closely with industry and supports our aim to protect shipping and deter, prevent and disrupt piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin.”

Further Information

• Lloyd’s List
• Lloyd’s List – Global Awards

July, 19th., three separate Task Forces with different mandates have proven that the international community stands shoulder to shoulder in combating the scourge of Piracy. On 19 July COMEUNAVFOR, Captain Juan Garat (ESPN), had a meeting on board his flagship, EU NAVFOR SPS NUMANCIA in the Gulf of Aden with his counterparts, Commander of Standing NATO Maritime Group SNMG2, Commodore S J Chick (RN), and Commander of Combined Task Force 151, RAdm. Caner Bener (TUN).

The Commanders of the three Tasks Forces operating in the Horn of Africa and off the coast of Somalia reaffirmed their views that they were working closely together to fight Piracy and allow international merchant shipping safe passage to transport their cargos all over the world without hindrance or danger from seaborne criminals.

During the meeting, the Force Commanders and their staffs provided briefings on areas of operation to improve the coordination and deconfliction when separate units operate in the same area. The meeting demonstrates that these Forces have an excellent working relationship where unprecedented coordination greatly improves their ability to deter or catch Pirates and bring them to justice. Captain Garat stated that “the close cooperation between all units in the Gulf of Aden has been the key to fighting piracy in the region”.

Tuesday 21 July, Rear Admiral Peter Hudson, Operational Commander of the EU Naval Force – Atalanta (Anti Piracy Operation) visited Kenya to discuss joint ventures to combat the growing scourge of Somali Pirates in the Horn of Africa and off the Somali Coast.

Adm Hudson, called on the Attorney General, Mr Amos Wako to reaffirm the judicial process between the EU and Kenya. Ambassador Joeran Bjaellerstedt from the Swedish Embassy was also in attendance. Sweden presently has the EU Presidency. On behalf of the EU, Adm Hudson expressed his “gratitude for Kenya taking the lead in the international community for providing a judicial process against piracy and helping the international community at large to solve this international problem. He went on to say that “the EU was extremely pleased that Kenya decided to take the lead in the region and support the EU in overcoming the spread of piracy”.  Mr Wako was pleased to note that the EU NAVFOR was being so successful in deterring piracy and he was particularly pleased that the European Union was taking such an active part in helping to solve the internal problems in Somalia. Noting the detrimental effect that piracy was having in the region, which was affecting the economies of all countries bordering Somalia the Attorney General stated that “Kenya and the EU were partners with common objectives and similar interests working together to deal with the problem of eliminating piracy”

This shared responsibility has many advantages in helping to build good relationships in the local area. The EU is in the process of forging new legal frameworks with a number of other countries in the region who have come to understand that piracy undermines the economic stability of the whole region as well as the wider international community.

Adm Hudson called on Beatrice Karago (Principal State Counsel) at the department of Foreign Affairs (Ambassador Joeran Bjaellerstedt was also in attendance). Mrs Karago Was “delighted with the close coordination between Kenya authorities and the EU NAVFOR in tackling piracy”. In commenting on the political situation in Somalia it was agreed that much work will have to be done to overcome the problems there. Ms Karago noted the EU’s commitment to regional problems stating that “Kenyan authorities appreciated the EU support to the region and, politically, it is hugely important for the whole international community to work together to resolve the internal conflict in Somalia”.

Kenya is also contributing in a practical way to this effort and, on calling on General Kianga, Chief of the General Staff, Adm Hudson thanked him for his contribution to the anti piracy effort in supporting EU NAVFOR forces in Mombasa and providing essential facilities for the operation’s continued success. Adm Hudson was particularly pleased by General Kianga’s offer of a Maritime Patrol aircraft operating from Mombassa and that proposal will be progressed in the coming months. A further offer of Kenyan Naval officers to serve in EU NAVFOR ships was also welcomed by Adm Hudson who was grateful for the offer of Kenyan personnel serving on the front line against piracy. General Kianga stated that he was delighted “with the excellent EU/Kenyan bilateral military arrangements that were contributing towards the fight against piracy”.

Adm Hudson met Mr Peter Goossens, WFP Director of Operations, who said that he “gave his personal thanks to EU NAVFOR for the support to the WFP. The willingness and cooperation, especially over the longer term, is very much appreciated”. Amongst the tasks conducted by EU NAVFOR, the primary task is to protect the World Food Programme ships and, since escorts by EU NAVFOR ships commenced in December 2008, not a single sip carrying WFP food to ports in Somalia has been attacked by pirates. Up to the middle of June 2009, 36 ships have been escorted with more than a quarter million tons of food aid being delivered.

RAdm Hudson and VAdm Gortney

Vice Admiral “Bill” Gortney, Commander US Naval Forces Central Command visited the European Union Naval Force Operation Headquarters today, 16 July 2009. VAdm Gortney was met by RAdm Peter Hudson Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR who provided briefings on the OHQ and the tasks conducted by the anti piracy EU Task Force operating off the Horn of Africa and the coast of Somalia in particular.

During the briefings it was explained that in accordance with Resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008) and 1838 (2008) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the EU  is conducting a military operation to contribute to the deterence and repression of acts and armed robbery off the Somali coast.

The EU NAVFOR aims are to contribute to:

• The protection of vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia.
• The protection of vulnerable vessels sailing through the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast and the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Soamali coast.

The EU Member States that have committed warships and aircraft to the EU NAVFOR so far are: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Norway will join in august 2009 and many other Member States are contributing by sending staff to the OHQ to support the operation.

Adm Gortney is in command of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). This comprises  Naval assets from more than 20 nations, which was established at the outset of Operation Enduring Freedom. Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) was formed for the conduct of Maritime Security Operations in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.  CMF has now established Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) specifically for counter-piracy operations.

EU NAVFOR and CTF 151 have already forged close links at sea and are part of a wider “coalition of the willing” to counter seaborne criminality. Both organisations are represented at the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) meetings in the Gulf region which includes Navies from the EU, NATO, Russia, China, Japan and India.

On leaving the EU NAVFOR OHQ Adm Gortney stated that EU NAVFOR and CMF were working extremely well together to bring pirates to justice. “Considering there is no direct chain of Command between us, there is an unprecedented level of cooperation and coordination at every level”, stated Adm Gortney.

Monitored mothership NAFEYA

After the unsuccessful attack of a Liberian flagged oil tanker earlier this morning, EU NAVFOR units have tracked down and are shadowing the pirate mothership and skiffs involved. The mothership is the NAFEYA, believed to have been hijacked earlier.

The Helicopter of the EU NAVFOR warship ACONIT and the EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft monitored the mothership and its skiffs until the ship was in sight of the pirates.

EU NAVFOR Warship ACONIT has also remained in close contact with the Liberian Tanker for ongoing investigations. The tanker is continuing on her way into the red sea. There were no casualties and only light damage to the vessel, which was registered with the Maritime Security Centre, Horn of Africa.

The advice followed by the crew of the tanker (using evasive tactics) greatly assisted in staving off the attack and all vessels transiting the area are strongly advised to register with MSCHOA and follow the anti piracy advice.