Rear Admiral Hudson and former Force Commanders cutting the anniversary cake

10 December 2009 marks the first anniversary of EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta, the successful EU Naval Force operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin against piracy. This anniversary represents a period of concerted achievement by the EU Naval Force in its fight against piracy. Hosted by Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE and co chaired by Mr Didier Lenoir (CPMD Brussels) and Mr Chris Trelawny (Head of Maritime Security Section IMO) it was a good opportunity to reflect on a successful first year of the operation.

The mission of Operation Atalanta has been 3 fold. Firstly, the mission provides close escort protection by EU Naval Force warships to World Food Programme shipments of food from Mombasa into Somalia. To date, EU Naval Force has provided protection to the shipment of over 300,000 tonnes of food, vital to a nation often hovering on the brink of starvation and none have been hijacked. Secondly, the mission is to deter and disrupt piracy and thirdly to protect vulnerable shipping.

The establishment of the International Recognised Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden has been a great achievement in the management and provision of protection to commercial shipping transiting these dangerous waters. Effective communication with the commercial shipping community has been established through the establishment of Maritime Security Centre, Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), a website system that allows EU Naval Force to provide Best Management Practice anti piracy advice to commercial shipping and information in the form of warnings and alerts of pirate threats. The establishment of a secure internet based communications system called Mercury also provides connectivity between EU NAVFOR, NATO and CMF as well as an impressive array of international states such as China, India, Japan and Russia.

Orchestrated by the EU and EU Naval Force, there have been many positive developments amongst, and between, regional nations directly affected by piracy. Positive steps and national recognition of responsibility to assist is evidenced through International agreements that allow regional prosecution of pirates from Kenya and Seychelles and other states are also showing interest in joining them. Sharing of information through the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction Conferences (SHADE), has been extremely successful and this cooperation is bringing together national navies not normally associated with the EU, NATO and CMF. This recognises that this operation is being taken seriously across all nations and the international community is responding positively to the challenge.

This has been a period of success for EU Naval Force and Admiral Hudson, the Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR stated that “while piracy cannot be defeated at sea alone, much is being done in Europe to bring stability to Somalia. We have been very successful in capturing pirates and pirate activity has been severely disrupted”. Also Mr Didier Lenoir CMPD from Brussels, summed up Op Atlanta during his talk to representatives at the Anniversary Day briefings when he said “Op Atlanta is not merely the ships that are provided, Op Atlanta is the core of a very successful mission.”

Picture Gallery

The Greek Frigate PSARA with the Chinese Destroyer WUHAN

In an very open gesture of mutual cooperation and understanding the European Union Force Commander Commodore Antonios Papaioannou from the Hellenic Navy was invited onboard the destroyer WUHAN to meet Rear Admiral DU JINGCHEN the commander of the Chinese anti-piracy operation off Somalia.

The meeting, which took place onboard the Chinese Flagship in the Gulf of Aden last Friday, is believed to be the first of its kind and was a clear indication of how willing the international community is to work together to combat piracy in the region.

The Russian Flagship a Kirov Cruiser PETER THE GREAT

Representatives from India, China, Japan and Ukraine visited the Operation HQ in Northwood to discuss sharing information between those forces conducting counter piracy activities. Commodore Papaioannou, the Greek Atalanta Force Commander, also visited the Russian Flagship “PETER THE GREAT” in the Gulf of Aden and as a result of his discussions, details of the protection measures the Russian Task Group has put in place have now been published on www.mschoa.org for merchant vessel masters to use.

After his meeting the Commodore explained that “this will provide owners and operators with a wider range of opportunities to travel through the new transit corridor in relative safety…. and I am highly encouraged by the number of different nations and commercial organisations who are now actively involved in contributing towards reducing piracy”.

Reports suggest that the newly positioned “Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor” (IRTC) is working well. It was established on 1 Feb 09 through an agreement between EU NAVFOR, the International Maritime Board (IMB), the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) and the American Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) to improve navigational safety and reduce the number of hijacking incidents.

This week also saw the release of MV CHEMSTAR VENUS with its 24 man crew and, despite favourable weather conditions, some reduction in pirate activity.

Advice and guidance on the best action to take to avoid attack can be found in the restricted area of the www.mschoa.org site where ship owners and operators can enrol free of charge to access this information. Registering their ships’ movements will also enable EU NAVFOR to carry out a risk assessment on each vessel so appropriate protection measures can be deployed in those most vulnerable to attack.

On Sunday the Chinese fishing vessel TIANYU No. 8 was freed after almost three months under pirate control. After the release Chinese warships escorted the trawler and its 24 man multinational crew to safety. This brings the total number of hijacked vessels down to 6.

In other news, the UK Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth visited to the Op Atalanta flagship, the Greek frigate PSARA, to receive an update on the operation. The minister met with the Force Commander, Commodore Papaioannou (GRN), and a number of officers and sailors from the Force Headquarters.

And Italy has announced that it will deploy a frigate to the task force from the beginning of April. The warship and its helicopter will be joining the EU NAVFOR for at least 3 months.

Javier SOLANA made the following comments:

“I would like to congratulate Commodore Antonios Papaioannou on his appointment as the EU Force Commander for operation EU NAVFOR Somalia, the first EU naval operation in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy.

Commodore Papaioannou brings his own considerable expertise and the experience of his national navy to his role as Force commander for this operation in a new area for the EU. In the accomplishment of his tasks, he will have my full support and that of the European Union as a whole.”

BACKGROUND

On 11 November 2008, the Council of the EU adopted a Joint Action on an EU military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (EU NAVFOR Somalia / operation “Atalanta”). This operation will contribute to: (a) the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia, in accordance with the mandate laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 1814 (2008); (b) the protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast, and the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, in accordance with the mandate laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 1816 (2008).

EU NAVFOR Somalia is an EU autonomous operation conducted in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). It is the first naval operation launched by the EU. Rear Admiral Philip JONES (UK) has been appointed EU Operation Commander for the operation. The EU Operational Headquarters is located at Northwood (UK).

CURRICULUM VITAE

Commodore Antonios PAPAIOANNOU
Born in Greece in 1957, Commodore Antonios PAPAIOANNOU graduated from Naval Academy in 1979. He is also a graduate of Hellenic Navy War College (Athens) and NATO Defence College (Rome). He also holds an antisubmarine warfare qualification (USA).

His sea duty assignments include:

Executive Officer of the destroyers ex-KANARIS and ex-THEMISTOCLES,
Commanding Officer of the corvette ex-AGON,
Commanding Officer of the frigate SPETSE (2001-2003),
Commandant of the Second Hellenic Frigates Squadron Command (2006-2008).
During his service, he has been deployed in the Red Sea (operation Dessert Shield) and in the Persian Gulf (operation Enduring Freedom) as commanding officer of frigate SPETSE.

His shore and staff assignments include:

Staff Officer in the Department of National Defence Policy (Navy General Staff);
Western European Union (Brussels)
Chief Director of weapon branch (Fleet Command)
Defence Attaché, Greek Embassy, London, UK.
He was promoted to Commodore in March 2008. Since April 2008, he is Chief Director of the National Operations Center (National Defense General Staff).

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Spokesperson of the Secretary General, High Representative for CFSP
Tel: +32 (0)2 281 6467 / 5150 / 5151 / 8239 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 5694
internet: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/solana
e-mail: presse.cabinet@consilium.europa.eu

The Operation has been established in support of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Resolutions 1814, 1816, 1838 and 1846 (2008) and will complete the following specific tasks during period of the operation:

• the protection of vessels of the WFP (World Food Programme) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia,
• the protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast,
• the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.

It is the first EU maritime operation, and is being conducted with in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and is part of the EU’s wider economic and political commitment to the region.

Operational Details

• EU Operation Commander – Rear Admiral Phillip Jones, UK Navy
• Deputy Operational Commander – Le Contre Amiral Jean-Pierre Labonne, French Navy
• EU Force Commander at Sea – Commodore Antonios Papaioannou, Hellenic Navy

The operation, which has been established for 12 months with a Headquarters in Northwood, (West London) United Kingdom, will command a force of up to 6 ships and 3 maritime patrol aircraft. In the first 4 month phase of the Operation, force contributions are expected to be made by the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Spain and Germany and approximately 1200 people will be taking part in the Operation at any one time.

It will also have the authority to liaise with other organisations and States, working in the region to combat acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.