The Force Commander and his staff outside the Information Sharing Centre

On the 10th June, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Alberto Correia and the Flag Captain Commander Diogo Arroteia visited the recently installed Piracy Information Sharing Centre in Mombasa.

The centre, commissioned by International Maritime Organization’s Secretary-General, Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos was launched on the 31^st March and it is the first of three information-sharing centres to contribute to the repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Indian Ocean.

The purpose of the visit was to get a better knowledge of the center’s capabilities, and mainly to understand the flow of information and coordination between the several involved stakeholders.

EUNAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EUNAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EUNAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

The Force Commander and his staff receiving a capability brief.

Several journalist attended the press conference

On 9 June, several journalists from regional and international media attended the EU NAVFOR Media Day in Mombasa, Kenya.  The main aim of the day was to increase the journalists’ knowledge of the current situation and their awareness of EU NAVFOR operations.

The Main event of this day was a press conference led by the Force Commander, Commodore Alberto Correia, at which all the journalists were able to raise questions and improve their knowledge of the EU NAVFOR tasks, new piracy trends and main challenges currently being faced in the fight against piracy in the region.

22 journalists, mainly from Kenya, Somalia and Uganda were hosted by the EU NAVFOR Portuguese flagship Vasco da Gama.  

On completion of the Press Conference, the journalists were given the opportunity to have a tour of the ship to get an impression of life and work at sea. 

Officers from EU NAVFOR Flagship FS DE GRASSE met merchant vessel masters in Mombasa harbour

During its port visit to Mombasa, EU NAVFOR French Flagship DE GRASSE explained once more the importance of Best Management Practices (BMP) in briefings to merchant vessel captains and crew.

Officers from EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE met a number of merchant vessel masters in harbour. They distributed leaflets to them and briefed them in procedures to best prevent pirate successfully attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin.
 
In addition to MSCHOA registration and a high degree of vigilance, BMP are vital to merchant vessels security, as they have proven effective in decreasing significantly the risk of being pirated.

The purpose of the BMP is to assist ships to avoid, deter or delay piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia, including the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Experience, supported by data collected by Naval Forces, shows that the application of the recommendations contained within this booklet can, and will, make a significant difference in preventing a ship becoming a victim of piracy.

“The Best Management Practice (BMP) booklet should perhaps not be called ‘Best’ Management Practice but ‘Minimum’ Management Practice: self protection measures and ongoing vigilance remain, today, the most effective measures against piracy. However, there are, unfortunately, still some ships passing through the Gulf of Aden without applying the BMP measures or without being registered on the MSCHOA website. ” said Colonel Richard Spencer, Chief of Staff of EU NAVFOR Operational Headquarters, on 25 August to maritime industry representatives.

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Major General Mwathethe, Chief of the Kenyan Navy, and Rear-Admiral Coindreau, EU NAVFOR Force Commander

During the French Flagship FS DE GRASSE’s port visit in Mombasa (Kenya), the Force Commander, Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, liaised with local authorities and partners.

 These included the Chief of the Kenyan Navy, Mayor of Mombasa, Coast Province Commissioner (regional representative of the State) and the Head of the Kenyan Maritime Authority.

The Chief of the Kenyan Navy expressed concern over piracy and a desire for the Kenyan Navy to be more involved in EU NAVFOR’s efforts against these criminal activities. Kenyan authorities have praised EU NAVFOR for its actions and have declared their concerns about piracy and its affects on the local economy, particularly, as Mombasa port is a main point of entry on the East coast of Africa.

The meetings between the various parties were aimed at sharing matters of common interest and contribute to form a coherent understanding of the anti-piracy operations.

Mombasa is also a logistic base for the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA), and the World Food Program (WFP), two key partners for EU NAVFOR.

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EU & Kenya co-operate to prosecute pirates

As part of its mission Op Atalanta, the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) is charged with helping to deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. EUNAVFOR has to date transferred 9 groups of suspected pirates totalling 75 individuals to the Kenyan authorities for prosecution.

Handover of suspected pirates to the Kenyan authorities takes place in Mombasa.  The suspected pirates will arrive, either by sea or air, in Mombasa where Kenyan police and state prosecutors will be presented the proposed case for prosecution.  Having reviewed the evidence and, assuming that the Kenyan prosecutors consider the case is suitable for prosecution, the suspected persons will then be arrested by the local authorities.

Kenyan law requires that the accused persons appear before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest by the Kenyan police.  Trials typically commence eight to ten weeks later.

Prosecutions are conducted by Kenyan Prosecutors under Kenyan Law before a single magistrate. EUNAVFOR officers work closely with Kenyan prosecutors, ensuring the attendance of witnesses, both military and civilian, from many different nations and assisting in evidence gathering and preparation of the prosecution case.

The maximum sentence upon conviction for piracy offences in Kenya is life imprisonment; under Kenyan Law – and indeed as a precondition for suspected pirates being transferred by EUNAVFOR – capital punishment is not available.

Cases are conducted in English, however, a Somali language interpreter is present at all proceedings.  Given the international nature of piracy offences, other interpreters may also be present to allow witnesses to give evidence.

In all cases the accused persons have had the benefit of professional legal representation.  Although the Kenyan legal system does not provide for legal aid in piracy cases, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has funded defence representation through independent legal advice organisations such as the East Africa Peace Institute Trust and Kituo Cha Sharia.

While the accused person’s trial is ongoing, they will be held at Shimo la Tewa Prison, 20 km North of Mombasa. Facilities at Shimo La Tewa have improved significantly as part of the European Commission and UNODC’s joint programme to enhance criminal justice capacity in Kenya and other nations in the region. Improvements at Shimo la Tewa include improvements in sanitation and water supply, the development of a welfare service to provide prisoners with basic necessities, the provision of educational and sports equipment, improvements in medical care and the reconstruction of the prison kitchen.  The programme has also seen substantial investment in both training and facilities at other Kenyan prisons, as well as for the Kenyan Police, Prosecutors and Court System, including the rebuilding of the court house at Shimo La Tewa.

Judgment in the first EUNAVFOR case is due to be delivered on 27 August 2010, with a number of other judgments expected in the weeks thereafter.

FS Surcouf escorts MV SEA DIAMOND

On the 4th of February EU NAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF arrived from Mombasa in front of Mogadishu with Two World Food Program vessels M/V ABDUL RAHMAN and M/V SEA DIAMOND.

On their arrival, they dropped their anchor in vicinity of the port and EU NAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF assured protection of the vessels until the arrival of an AMISOM security team that took over the responsibility of the merchant vessels after which the SURCOUF headed to Mombassa, her next port of call.

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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Navarra escorts MV Power Star

On the 23rd of January, EU NAVFOR Warship ESPS NAVARRA completed successfully the escort of MV POWER STAR to Salalah.

The World Food Programme chartered vessel left Mombassa on the 13th of January and initially met EU Warship FGS BREMEN and was accompanied until treaching Mogadishu. From there ESPS NAVARRA took  responsibility for escorting the ship to her final destination.

Both EUNAVFOR Warships provided close protection to the MV POWER STAAR while transiting the Somali coast and across the Gulf of Aden. These waters have recently witnessed a number of attempted pirate hijackings.

MV POWER STAR was chartered by the WFP office in Nairobi (Kenya) and is carrying humanitarian aid to Somalia. No WFP chartered vessels has been hijacked since the beginning of EU NAVFOR mission in December 2008.

EU NAVFOR SOMALIA Operation ATALANTA main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden in order to deter and disrupt piracy

MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA escorted by FS SURCOUF

On the 20th of January, EUNAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF  successfully completed the escort of AMISOM chartered cargo vessel ALPHA KIRAWIRA, Sierra Leone flagged, from MOGADISHU to MOMBASA.

FS SURCOUF met MV ALPHA KIRAWIRA at sea on the 17th of January, off the coast of Mogadishu. The MV on leaving the port sailed south along the coast under the close protection of the EUNAVFOR ship. The three day journey passed without incident but SURCOUF crewmembers remained vigilant and ready to face any possible threat during the transit.

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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Jordaniian Bulk Carrier MV Jaipur

MV JAIPUR, a Jordanian bulk carrier, chartered by the UN World Food Program, left Mombasa with EU NAVFOR warship FGS BREMEN on the 21st of December.

Two days later, responsibility for her was handed over to EUNAVFOR warship FS SURCOUF who ensured the Jordanian ship’s safe transit to Oman, her final destination. The close protection of the MV JAIPUR including daily maritime patrol conducted by organic helicopters, ensured a successful transit. To date, no UN WFP vessels escorted by EUNAVFOR warship have been hijacked.

The main tasks of EU NAVFOR mission 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.

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Rear Adm Hudson inspects Kenyan Naval Guard

From 29 Nov to 2 Dec, Rear Admiral Peter Hudson Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, visitied Djibouti and Kenya to say thank you to the authorities for their cooperation in fighting piracy and for their excellent support to EU NAVFOR. In Djibouti Admiral Hudson met a number of Djiboutian officials and agreed further cooperation and information sharing. He also met UNHCR and was also able to review the facilitites at the French military base where the EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol aircraft are based.

On flying to Nairobi, the Admiral met Kenyan officials and expressed his gratitude for the exemplary role played by Kenya in anti piracy. He also met with representatives from the World Food Programme, UNODC and UNSOA culminating in discussions with Swedish Ambassador Ann Dismor (Sweden holds the EU Presidency) and he also attended EU Heads of Mission meeting at the Embassy.

In Mombasa, Admiral Hudson was invited to meet the Kenyan Navy where he praised the effort of the Kenyan military for their support to EU NAVFOR for the anti piracy effort. Agreements were concluded to take Kenyan Naval Officers to sea in EU NAVFOR warships and the MPRA offered by Kenya on a previous visit by Adm Hudson would be starting operations within a few days. (See future press release)

Admiral Hudson concluded his visit to Africa by hosting a press conference onboarda the EU NAVFOR French ship FLOREAL that was visiting Mombasa at the time. In an address to the ships company of FLOREAL, Admiral Hudson stated “well done for the excellent contribution that you are making to the fight against piracy.”

Postscript: 2 days after this address, FLOREAL played a central role in the capture of eleven pirates off the Seychells.

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