Escort of MV Alpha Kirawira to Mogadishu

Despite increased tension in Mogadishu and a heightened pirate threat, the EU NAVFOR warship Louise-Marie escorted African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) ship Alpha Kirawira from Mombasa to Mogadishu.

On 29 November EU NAVFOR Belgian warship Louise-Marie was tasked to escort the 1274-ton merchant vessel Alpha Kirawira from Mombasa to Mogadishu. A routine job for the Louise-Marie, but due to high tension and increased threat, the escort was risky and perilous.

The Kenyan built MV Alpha Kirawira participates in the AMISOM-program. Her cruising speed is just 7 knots which makes her a vulnerable ship to pirate attacks.

The EU NAVFOR warship Louise-Marie ensured a safe transit for the MV Alpha Kirawira by using her helicopter and long range sensors, implementing force protection measures and manoeuvring in order to be able to react quickly and to protect the vulnerable ship. On arrival on 1 December in the vicinity of Mogadishu, extra precautions were taken by EU NAVFOR warship Louise-Marie due to the risks of attack and finally MV Alpha Kirawira arrived safely in Mogadishu.

Belgian EU NAVFOR Warship LOUISE-MARIE escorting MV Semlow 2

EU NAVFOR warship Louise-Marie protects WFP M/V Semlow – Hijacked in 2005

On the 19th of November, the merchant vessel (M/V) Semlow – loaded with food supplies for the Somali population – arrived safely in Mogadishu after a three day transit. The escort was carried out by EUNAVFOR warship Louise-Marie.

In 2005, the M/V Semlow, entering Somali waters without EUNAVFOR escort was hijacked by Somali pirates and remained in captivity for more than 3 months.

On the 17th of November 09 EUNAVFOR warship Louise-Marie departed the port of Mombasa on a mission to escort the World Food Program (WFP) ship M/V Semlow to Mogadishu. The ship was carrying much needed food supplies for the Somali people.

Whilst navigating close to the Somali coast – known for harboring pirates – the EU NAVFOR warship protected the M/V Semlow using her helicopter and implementing force protection measures.

After a 1000 km transit along the coast of Somalia, the Louise-Marie and her valuable escort arrived in Mogadishu on the 20th of November. The offloading started swiftly and food will be distributed shortly to the Somali people by WFP personnel.

This was the second successful escort of a WFP ship by Louise-Marie and the 45th successful WFP escort for EU NAVFOR overall.

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LOUISE MARIE escorting AMISOM

From the 20th until 24th of November, the EUNAVFOR Belgian Warship Louise-Marie escorted the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) ship “Alpha Kirawira”.

 

On the 20th of November 09, the EUNAVFOR Belgian warship Louise-Marie escorted the 1274-tons “Alpha Kirawira” from Mogadishu to Mombasa.

AMISOM protects government and other vital infrastructure in Mogadishu in support of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The troops rely on logistic support from Mogadishu.

At the request of the UN, the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Javier Solana, promised that AMISOM hired ships would be protected by EU NAVFOR as the EU, as part of its comprehensive approach, supports the TFG and AMISOM.

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MV Jolly Rosso, an Italian flagged Ro-Ro Cargo ship (200m and 31000 tons) was attacked by two small skiffs. The pirates opened fire with automatic fire and also fired 3 Rocket Propelled grenades at the ship. The ship took appropriate evasive action, managed to evade the attack and is proceeding on her voyage. There were no casualties. Belgium EU NAVFOR warship BNS Louise Marie was ordered immediately to close and neutralize the pirate attack position in cooperation with NATOs USS Donald Cook of CTF 508. An EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft based in Seychelles has also been tasked to investigate the area in support of both ships.

Almost at the same time, MV Al Khaliq, a Panama flagged bulk carrier (180m and 22000 tons) reported being under attack 180 nautical miles west of the Seychelles. In the last contact with the vessel it was said that two pirates were on board trying to access the accommodation.

On indication of the attack the second EU NAVFOR maritime patrol aircraft, operating from the Seychelles, was tasked to confirm the situation of the vessel and search for other pirate activity in the vicinity. A ship of the Seychelles Coast Guard is also proceeding to the attack position. Within the last hour, the EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft has confirmed that “the hijack of MV Al Khaliq, 6 pirates on board and two attack skiffs in tow. The mother skiff has already been taken on board with a crane”.

BNS Louise Marie and the two maritime patrol aircrafts take part in the EU NAVFOR Somalia – 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 helicopter of EU NAVFOR Belgian Warship LOUISE-MARIE was immediately launched to investigate and it arrived at the scene, the skiff took off at speed from the merchant vessel. Due to the suspicious behavior of the skiff the EU NAVFOR Belgian warship LOUISE-MARIE was ordered to board the skiff.

The skiff, took off at great speed and refused to stop when ordered to do so by LOUISE-MARIE. The helicopter of the LOUISE-MARIE fired two bursts of warning shots with their on-board machine gun after which the skiff stopped and was subsequently boarded for a thorough search.
Although no weapons or ladders were found, 13 fuel drums were discovered. The skiff’s crew stated that they were fisherman but no fishing material was found. They were warned about high speed approaches to merchant vessels and then released to continue on their way.

On 13 and 14 September the EU NAVFOR Belgian warship LOUISE-MARIE escorted the Mighty Servant 1, a 29,000-ton semi-submersible heavy-lift ship.

The LOUISE-MARIE, participating in the European Union Naval Force – Operation Atalanta, was tasked to escort the Mighty Servant 1, a 29,000-ton semi-submersible heavy-lift ship. The Mighty Servant 1, transiting from the Maldives to Norway, is transporting a huge part of an oil production platform. The Mighty Servant 1 can submerse herself in order to receive a heavy load and this type of ship has a typically low well deck and sails with at relatively low speed. The extreme load also means that there are several blind sectors of visibility around the ship and these factors, as well as her low speed make the Mighty Servant 1 vulnerable to pirate attack . EU NAVFOR Belgian warship Louise-Marie started her escort of the Might Servant 1 on 13 Sep and after 2 days handed over to EU NAVFOR Swedish warship HSwMS MALMOE to continue the escort.

EU NAVFOR, the NATO Task Force and TF 151 of the Combined Maritime Forces headquartered in Bahrein coordinate their efforts for the protection of all shipping in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden. Ships that register with MSCHOA and have received a high vulnerability rating will be particularly monitored during their transit through the protected IRTC.

All shipping is strongly advised to adopt the Best Management Practices as advertised on the MSCHOA website. On top of that, the Chinese, Japanese and South Korean maritime forces that conduct in principle National convoys regularly allow other flagged ships to attach. Information and coordination between all the Task Forces mentioned above is exchanged via the EU initiated common communications system.

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EU NAVFOR ships BNS LOUISE-MARIE and HSwMS MALMOE escorts vulnerable giant MIGHTY SERVANT 1

EU NAVFOR BELGIAN WARSHIP LOUISE-MARIE escorts 'Mighty Servant I'

Thirty-eight survivors on board EU NAVFOR warship LOUISE-MARIE

Today the EU NAVFOR Belgian warship LOUISE-MARIE discovered a sinking skiff with forty six people on board. LOUISE-MARIE provided assistance and brought the people on board for basic medical care.

The EU NAVFOR Belgian warship LOUISE-MARIE, participating in the European Operation Atalanta, was tasked to patrol in the International Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden. At 08 o’clock on the 14 September, ship’s lookouts observed a skiff sinking with people already in the water. LOUISE-MARIE quickly responded, maneuvering in an attempt to rescue people in the water with her ship’s boats. Her helicopter was also airborne to continue the search for further survivors.  Thirty-eight survivors are currently on board of EU NAVFOR LOUISE-MARIE, receiving medical treatment, drinks and food. After a considerable search of the area there appears to be no sign of the 8 people missing.

Form the survivors it appears that the ship began sinking at 05 o’clock in the morning. LOUISE-MARIE maintains her helicopter airborne and is supported by a Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft to continue in the search and rescue mission for other possible survivors. This will be terminated in the next hour.