Captain (N) Garat and the crews were greeted by a large number of relatives assembled at the jetty in Rota Naval Base. They were officially welcomed by the Chief of the Spanish Navy, Admiral Juan C Muñoz-Delgado.

Among those assembled to welcome Captain (N) Garat and the two ships was also EU NAVFOR Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Thorsten Kaehler who stated at the occasion,

“We welcome NAMANCIA and her crew back to Spain. On behalf of EU NAVFOR I would like to take the opportunity to thank Captain (N) Juan Garat Caramé and his crew for a well done job.”

NUMANCIA arrived in Rota – Chief of Sanish Navy, Admiral Juan Carlos Munoz-Diaz del Rio, muster the crew – Deputy Force Commander Rear Admiral Thorsten Kaehler thanks Captain (N) Juan Garat Carame.

Rescued Yemeni Fishermen

Monday June 22 at 14:20 (UTC), the EU NAVFOR Op Atalanta unit, Spanish warship MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA rescued two Yemini fishermen lost at sea. The EU NAVFOR warship spotted the fishermen drifting in a small boat suffering from an engine defect. The Yemini fishermen had been drifting for four days and were given assistance by the EU NAVFOR vessel, including medical treatment, food and water. Before leaving the boat, the MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA crew repaired the engine and supplied the fishermen with fuel, food and water, enabling them to safely continue on their way.

The vessel was not registered with MSCH(HOA).

For some days 14 suspected pirates have been held detained onboard the Spanish Atalanta unit ESPS MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA. Kenya has now formally agreed to take over these suspects for prosecution, based on the agreement between Kenya and the EU, which now will be used already the fifth time. The Spanish tanker will enter the port of Mombasa tomorrow morning and hand over the detainees to Kenyan authorities. This will make a total of 52 suspected pirates having been handed in by EU NAVFOR Atalanta for prosecution.

One group of 7 suspects was detained, after they tried to attack a Greek merchant vessel, a tanker under Panama flag, on 06 May in the Gulf of Aden. This vessel started evasive manoeuvres to counter the attack and hit the attacking skiff, which then capsized. The second group of also 7 suspects was detained one day later, after they attacked another Greek ship, a Malta flagged bulk carrier, but were stopped by the helicopter of ESPS MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA, which was in vicinity. This incident also took place in the Gulf of Aden.

Two groups of detained suspects had been handed over to Kenya by a German frigate and two more by a French one previously.

In another pirate incident late yesterday morning, an attack was fended off by a Greek vessel. The Greek vessel being attacked took evasive steering action and consequently hit the approaching skiff, which then capsized. The seven pirates were later recovered by the Spanish Atalanta unit ESPS MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA and detained onboard. No casualties or damage were sustained during this incident, which also took place in the Gulf of Aden.

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.

MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA in company with MSC MELODY

An attempt to pirate a 36,000 tonnes Italian cruise liner was successfully repelled last night after the vessel took evasive action to avoid the hijacking. Approximately 1500 passengers and crew are on board, none of whom were injured in the attack. The incident took place in the Indian Ocean some 500 miles east of Mogadishu and 200 miles north of the Seychelles and vessels are warned to stay away from this area for fear of further attacks.

The Op Atalanta Spanish warship SPS MARQUES DE LA ENSENADA will rendezvous with the liner later this morning to accompany her as she transits north to the Gulf of Aden.