EU NAVFOR Spanish warship NAVARRA assists the Iranian Dhow UAID 400

On 19th March the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship NAVARRA was despatched by the Force HQ (ITS ETNA) to assist an Iranian dhow that had sent out a distress call.

The Iranian fishing dhow, named UAID 400, with 13 crewmembers, had suffered a pirate attack some days before and had been left without food,water or sufficient fuel to return to shore.

After a high speed dash, the NAVARRA’s helicopter located the dhow early the following morning, 60 NMiles from its last known position. The crew were seen on deck waving their arms and making desperate signs for help as the helicopter approached them.
 
Once EU NAVFOR warship ESPS NAVARRA arrived in the vicinity of the dhow, a boarding party was sent onboard and confirmed that the fishing vessel’s radio equipment was broken and their mobile phones were not working. The crew were already drinking sea water and there was no food onboard. The crew confirmed that it had been  four days since the attack.

The fishermen reported that the pirates had kept them tied up for two days without food or water.  When the pirates left they looted the vessel and also took the crew’s possessions. The NAVARRA provided the crew with sufficient food, water and fuel to ensure that that they could make it back to the nearest harbour. The Iranian crew, who are now all well, were extremely grateful for EU NAVFOR’s quick reaction to their distress call that clearly saved their lives.

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.

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Suspected pirates tries to escape

While EU NAVFOR Warship FGS EMDEN was proceeding to the last known position of a pirate attack  reported by the Spanish fishing vessel ALBATUN 2, on the 18th of March, her helicopter found one whaler and two attack skiffs with twelve persons onboard.

When the suspected pirates noticed the presence of the helicopter, they tried to escape, and it took warning shots to stop them fleeing. They then jumped overboard and swam to their mother ship. More warning shots were required to stop the whaler that tried to escape as well. As a result of this action, two attack skiffs were destroyed and grappling hooks were seized.

Two days later the EMDEN’s helicopter discovered a new PAG, consisting of one mother ship (whaler) and two skiffs in tow about 250 nautical miles from Somali coast. Initially, the mother ship refused to stop and to follow the instructions given by the helicopter. Warning shots were necessary to stop them and finally a boarding team was sent onboard the PAG. The boarding team destroyed several weapons, grappling hooks and ladders and afterwards the two skiffs were destroyed as well.

This operation is a part of a coordinated operation planned and directed by EU NAVFOR staff embarked in EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA, to disrupt pirate activity.

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 off the Somali coast.

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Skiff destruction

On 12^th March, after receiving a report from MV E.R. LUBECK (Liberian Flag, German owner), that pirates in 2 skiffs had tried to hijack her, COMEUNAVFOR initiated a surge operation to intercept and disrupt the PAG.

The EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA tasked the EUNAVFOR Swedish and Luxemburg Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and EUNAVFOR Warship HNLMS TROMP against the PAG consisting of one mother skiff and two skiffs.

The attack on the LUBECK took place almost one thousand miles from the Somali coast and HNLMS TROMP proceeded at best speed to assist. The EU NAVFOR MPA continued to track the PAG and vectored the warship onto the suspected pirate position.  

On the 14^th of March, on arrival at the scene of action, HNLMS TROMP launched her helicopter, located a skiff and was forced to fire several warning shots before the 10 metres long mother ship (whaler) stopped. A boarding party soon took control of the boat with two persons onboard. HNLMS TROMP continued to search the area and, the following day, found two suspicious skiffs with 7 persons onboard about one hundred nautical miles from the whaler. Some equipment had been jettisoned but ladders and weapons were found onboard the skiffs. All equipment was confiscated and the mother ship was destroyed.

At about the same time as the TROMP was disrupting her PAG, and approximately one hundred nautical miles North West of the SEYCHELLES, the Seychellois Coast Guard PB ANDROMACHE was guided by EU NAVFOR MPA onto another mother ship and 2 skiffs, who were believed to have been involved in an attempted hijacking on a Spanish tuna Fishing Vessel TXORI ARGI the day before.  After that attack, the EU NAVFOR MPA monitored the PAG and was able to direct the Seychelles Coast Guard on to the approximate position of the attack. 8 suspected pirates have been taken into custody.

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.

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.

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EU NAVFOR Italian warship ITS ETNA

Over the weekend of 5 – 7 March, EU NAVFOR units have been involved in concerted operations to interdict and disrupt pirate action groups before they had the opportunity to pirate vessels in the Indian Ocean.

Six pirate action groups have been intercepted, mother ships and skiffs have been destroyed and over 40 pirates have been taken into custody.

As reported by EU NAVFOR on 5 March, the Force Commander of Operation ATALANTA, RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO, onboard the ITS ETNA, tasked the French EU NAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE to intercept and disrupt the pirate attack group, which had previously been repelled by the Vessel Protection Detachment embarked onboard a French vessel. The Nivose intercepted the group of 1 mother ship and 2 skiffs and found pirate paraphernalia in the skiffs including a rocket launcher, grappling hooks and several fuel barrels. The pirates were arrested and the mother ship destroyed.

This was the start of a weekend where the Command ship ITS ETNA, FS NIVOSE and their helicopters and the Maritime Patrol Aircraft from Luxemburg, Spain and Sweden were involved in the disruption of 5 pirate action groups, including the destruction of mother ships and skiffs, and the arrest of over 40 pirates.

During an attack on a French fishing vessel, TORRE GIULIA, two other fishing vessels, TREVIGNON and TALENDUIC came to her rescue. During close contact, the mother ship collided with one of the fishing vessels and sank, and the Fishing vessel immediately stopped to help those in the water to save their lives. Only four pirates were found initially but a search and rescue effort including, an EU NAVFOR Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft, ensured that the remaining two pirates were found and taken onboard the TORRE GIULIA.

The efforts of all units and aircraft in this operation show the determination of EU NAVFOR to fight piracy in the Indian Ocean as well as the Gulf of Aden. Attacks will still happen and hijackings may still take place but this recent success ensures that there were 6 less ships hijacked over the weekend.

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.

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EU NAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE and skiffs

Early this morning, in the southern Indian Ocean, between the Seychelles and Mombasa a pirate group of 1 mother ship and 2 skiffs was intercepted by EU NAVFOR.

The pirates were operating in an area where an earlier attack had taken place and the Force Commander of Operation ATALANTA, RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO, tasked the French EU NAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE to intercept and disrupt the pirate attack group, which had previously been repelled by the Vessel Protection Detachment embarked onboard a French vessel.

On the early morning of the 5th of March, EUNAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE launched her helicopter and detected the skiffs some  350 nautical miles east of the Somali coast. The EU NAVFOR French Boarding Team, while approaching the skiffs, observed objects being thrown overboard. On arrival at the scene they found 11 suspected pirates and pirate paraphernalia in the skiffs including a rocket launcher, grappling hooks and several fuel barrels. The mother ship and one skiff have been destroyed and the suspected pirates taken into custody.

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.

ITS ETNA and MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA

On the afternoon 11th February, EU NAVFOR Warship ITS ETNA successfully completed her first escort in ATALANTA Operation.

The AMISOM chartered vessel, M/V ALPHA KIRAWIRA, was escorted from Mombassa to Mogadishu for four days, guaranteeing the safe arrival of humanitarian aids to Somalia and material for AMISOM troops based in Mogadishu.

EU NAVFOR Warship ITS ETNA will wait in waters off Mogadishu for the unloading of M/V ALPHA KIRAWIRA, expected on the morning 12th February, and will provide further protection to the merchant vessel on the way back to Mombassa.

EU NAVFOR 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.

FCDR RAdm GUMIERO and Chief of Defense Brigadier PAYET

On 29th of January, after three weeks of patrolling in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin, EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA called in at Port VICTORIA, Republic of Seychelles for a four day visit.

EU NAVFOR Commander RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO met several Civilian and Military Authorities, including Vice President BELMONT and Minister MORGAN who expressed their gratitude to EU NAVFOR for their continuing support to the Seychelles in the anti piracy mission.

Seychelles is playing a fundamental role in fighting piracy following a written agreement between EU and the Republic of SEYCHELLES on 30th of October which allows apprehended alleged pirates and armed robbers to be transferred from EU NAVFOR Units to the Island for prosecution.

Piracy contributes to destabilisation in the Region especially for a Nation such as Seychelles. It deters national fishing fleets from operating in the Seychelles’ Exclusive Economic Zone and a considerable number of cruise and merchant ships divert to other ports. This creates an impact on tourism and does have a limiting factor on the economic growth of the Nation. The Political and Military Authorities and RAdm GUMIERO agreed to enhance the already close cooperation between the Seychellois Coast Guard, Seychelles Defence Forces and EU NAVFOR. Maritime Patrol Aircraft from EU NAVFOR are provided with basing facilities in the Seychelles and have already conducted joint operations against piracy.

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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RAdm Gumiero and Senior Captain Qiu Yanpeng

On the 16th of January 2010, taking advantage of the vicinity of the two Flagships in the Gulf Of Aden, CTF 465, RAdm Gumiero, and CTF 525 (Chinese People Liberation Army Navy Task Force), Senior Captain Qiu Yanpeng took the opportunity to  arrange a meeting.

The meeting was conducted in a friendly and pleasant atmosphere on board the Chinese Warship MA’ANSHAN. Senior Captain Qui YANPENG, the Chief of the Chinese Mission, received RAdm Gumiero and a delegation from FHQ on the flight deck. The meeting was aimed at continuing the coordination in the IRTC, seeking more interoperability and enhancing the already good relations between the two Task Forces. It is not the first time that the Commander of the Chinese Task Force has met COMEUNAVFOR, as well as other CTFs operating in this Region, thus demonstrating the strong links between all the forces in the area.

The Fourth Chinese Escort Task Group consists of three frigates, MA’ANSHAN, WENZHOU, CHAOHU, and one General Supply Ship, QIANDAOHU. TF 525 main tasks are to maintain the security of GOA, safeguard Chinese vessels and personnel transiting GOA and waters off Somalia, offer protection to vessels carrying humanitarian materials for international organizations like WFP and ensure safety of vessels from other countries and regions following our convoy.

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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Italian ship ETNA refuelling Korean warship YI SUNSHIN at Sea

On the occasion of the Refuelling At Sea (RAS) between the EUNAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA and the Korean warship ROKS CHUNGMUGONG YI SUNSHIN, in the Gulf of Aden, Rear Admiral Giovanni Gumiero took advantage of the proximity of the two ships to visit Captain Myung Sung Kim, Commander of CheonHae Escort Force and Commanding Officer of the Korean Warship.

Republic of KOREA is contributing to the fight against piracy with a Destroyer patrolling in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden serving under the Command of CTF 151 (US-led anti piracy coalition Task Force) and, occasionally, escorting Korean Flag Merchant Vessels.

The visit paid by CTF 465, RAdm Gumiero,  enhanced the already good relationships with the Korean Forces in the Region and further areas of cooperation were explored.

RAdm Gumiero stated that “this first refuelling of a South Korean ship by EU NAVFOR went extremely well and helps to enhance our excellent relationships with coalition forces in the area”

EU NAVFOR 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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