The EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship HNOMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN in close cooperation with CTF 151

A meeting of the SHADE Group met in Bahrain on 29 Sept 2009 to discuss practical aspects of counter-piracy off the coast of Somalia.

SHADE was established in December 2008 as a means of sharing ‘best practice’, conduct informal discussions and deconflict the activities of those nations and organisations involved in military counter-piracy operations in the region. Initially, SHADE participation involved the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain, the European Naval Force EU NAVFOR and NATO but it grew quickly to include many regional nations and other navies operating under independent mandates, such as China, India, Japan and Russia.

SHADE is a voluntary international military group that meets on a monthly basis in Bahrain.  In all, 26 nations were present, along with 3 Coalitions and representatives from industry. This meeting welcomed Ukraine as the newest participant.

A number of good examples of practical coordination at sea were highlighted in the meeting.

• On 24 July the EU NAVFOR Italian warship MAESTRALE with the NATO Turkish warship GEDIZ and the Indian warship GODAVARI worked closely together to deter a possible pirate attack.
• On 22 August, when in a combined action including EU NAVFOR ships, fast rhibs, a helicopter and a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft, a suspected pirate skiff was stopped and disarmed. (-> read more)
• On 26 August EU NAVFOR ship FRIDTJOF NANSEN and a helicopter, in cooperation with a South Korean navy helicopter from CTF 151 responded to an emergency call. (-> read more)
• On Wednesday 26th of August the commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Commodore Pieter Bindt RNLN (CTF 465) met with Rear Admiral Scott Sanders USN, Commander of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) on board the CTF 151 flagship USS ANZIO (CG68). (-> read more)

The meeting achieved broad consensus on a set of terms of reference, agreed to explore opportunities to coordinate logistics and resources, commissioned further work on improving communications with merchant shipping and campaign effectiveness.

SHADE achievements over the last 9 months include:

• Establishment of an Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden, which was endorsed by IMO in July 2009
• Development of the IRTC Coordination Guide
• Agreement on the utility of a common geographical reference system
• Support for the innovative military communications system MERCURY, which allows all SHADE participants to coordinate together in real time
• Emergence of coordinated focused operations off the coast of Somalia
• Improving coordination with industry
• Command opportunities and assets being shared across SHADE participants – e.g. Singaporean and Turkish commanders operating from US warships

The Italian ship MAESTRALE in the India Ocean (Source: http://www.marina.difesa.it)

Early this morning, Tuesday 30 June, EU NAVFOR ship Italian Navy MAESTRALE was tasked by the Force Commander of the EU NAVFOR to proceed at best speed to assist with the Search and Rescue effort to find the missing Yemeni airbus which is reported to have crashed into the sea  in the Comoros archipelago.

EU NAVFOR ship MAESTRALE will arrive in the area of the crash site and join other naval vessels to help with the search to find survivors and any wreckage from the aircraft.

The Italian Warship MAESTRALE in the India Ocean (Source: http://www.marina.difesa.it)

The European Naval Force warship ITS MAESTRALE (Italian) handed over nine detainees suspected of involvement in piracy to the Kenyan authorities on June 25th.

The European Naval Force Operation Atalanta, (EU NAVFOR), to whose command the ship is assigned, is very grateful to all of the Kenyan authorities for their help in resolving the international issue of piracy.

The pirates, however, turned their interest towards another merchant vessel in the area, a Danish-owned ship. When the warship helicopter arrived on the scene, it fired warning shots toward the pirates in order to stop the attack.

Thereafter a boarding team was sent out from the MAESTRALE on arriving at the scene, whereupon nine (9) pirates were captured. The pirates are at present being detained on the MAESTRALE pending further investigation.

Earlier this spring, Italian frigate MAESTRALE , joined the European Union Op ATALANTA in the waters off Somalia. She is one of 12 warships tasked under EU NAVFOR.

The European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Atalanta, countering piracy around the Horn of Africa, on 2^nd of May has been reinforced by an incoming Greek ship, the frigate HS NIKIFOROS FOKAS.

After HS PSARA, the first flag ship of the operation, had left early April, Greece now is contributing with another unit. The HS NIKIFOROS FOKAS (F 466), named after a Greek hero from the 10^th century, is one of 10 originally Dutch KORTENAER-class frigates in service in the Greek Navy. The frigate has a displacement of 3500 tons, is equipped with several missile systems for anti-surface and anti-air warfare, torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare, several medium and light guns and also one organic helicopter, and has a crew of approximately 200. She will stay with the Task Force for several months.

The current composition of EU NAVFOR Atalanta is showing 11 ships plus 4 Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA). Force Commander is Captain Juan Garat Caramé.

-         ESPS NUMANCIA ( Spanish frigate, flagship)

-         HS NIKIFOROS FOKAS (Greek frigate)

-         FGS RHEINLAND-PFALZ (German frigate)

-         FGS EMDEN (German frigate)

-         FGS MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN (German frigate)

-         ITS MAESTRALE (Italian frigate)

-         FS COMMANDANT DUCUING (French frigate)

-         FS NIVOSE (French frigate)

-         FS ALBATROS (French Patrol boat)

-         ESPS MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA (Spanish tanker)

-         FGS BERLIN (German supply ship)

-         P3 ORION (Spanish MPRA)

-         P3 ORION (German MPRA)

-         BREGUET ATLANTIC (French MPRA)

-         FALCON 50 (French small MPRA)

Next reinforcement will be 2 Swedish corvettes plus 1 supply unit in the middle of May.