EU NAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE and skiffs

Early this morning, in the southern Indian Ocean, between the Seychelles and Mombasa a pirate group of 1 mother ship and 2 skiffs was intercepted by EU NAVFOR.

The pirates were operating in an area where an earlier attack had taken place and the Force Commander of Operation ATALANTA, RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO, tasked the French EU NAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE to intercept and disrupt the pirate attack group, which had previously been repelled by the Vessel Protection Detachment embarked onboard a French vessel.

On the early morning of the 5th of March, EUNAVFOR Warship FS NIVOSE launched her helicopter and detected the skiffs some  350 nautical miles east of the Somali coast. The EU NAVFOR French Boarding Team, while approaching the skiffs, observed objects being thrown overboard. On arrival at the scene they found 11 suspected pirates and pirate paraphernalia in the skiffs including a rocket launcher, grappling hooks and several fuel barrels. The mother ship and one skiff have been destroyed and the suspected pirates taken into custody.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

Win Far 161

M/V WIN FAR 161 that has been anchored off the Somali coast in the vicinity of Harardheere for almost 10 months has finally been released. The pirates vacated the vessel on the evening of 11 Feb and the master has taken command once more.

The Taiwanese fishing vessel WIN FAR 161 was hijacked on 6th April 2009 from the Somali Basin, approximately 160Nm north of the Seychelles. The vessel had been operating outside the EU NAVFOR Area of Operation (AOR) and as such its movements were not registered with the MSCHOA. It is understood from the owner that all 28 crew members are well and were released with food, fuel and water.  The ship is now heading out to sea and is being monitored by EU NAVFOR.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s 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.

Pakistani fisherman arrives on board ITS ETNA

In early December a Pakistani fishing vessel was hijacked by pirates not far from the territorial waters of Oman and, during the attack, one of the fishermen was shot in the leg just below the knee.

As a consequence, the crew was kept as hostages, including the wounded Pakistani fisherman, who was left for about a month without any treatment of the wound or stabilisation of his leg. The captured fishing vessel was later used by the pirates as a mother-ship from where they launched piratical attacks in the area using smaller skiffs they had loaded on board. After one such successful attack, the pirates abandoned the fishing vessel and the crew were rescued by the EU NAVFOR Warship FS SURCOUF that was patrolling in the area.

The wounded fisherman received immediate first aid medical treatment and was then transferred to EU NAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA who has a Role 2 Medical facility and surgical team onboard. Onboard ETNA he was examined and received some extended wound-treatment including initial surgery. ETNA subsequently transferred their patient to the French Military Hospital “Bouffard” in Djibouti, where some final surgical treatment was carried out.

After nearly a month in the care of EU NAVFOR and the French Military Hospital, the man was cleared fit to fly home. Before leaving he expressed his sincere gratitude for all the assistance that he received onboard EU NAVFOR ships SURCOUF and ETNA and also at the Military Hospital. He arrived in Pakistan on 26th January.

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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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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On December 5th an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, stationed at the Seychelles, located a suspected Pirate Attack Group with one mother skiff and two attack skiffs. EU NAVFOR French warship FS Floreal was tasked to close the group and the Seychellois Coast Guard also responded to the request by sending their patrol vessel Topaz.

At first light, EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft relocated the suspected Pirated Attack Group and directed both vessels to that position. On arrival of the Coast Guard vessel, the helicopter of FS Floreal assisted the Topaz crew with the intercept and securing the area. Eleven suspected pirates were arrested by the Seychellois Coast Guard and all pirate related paraphernalia was seized; two attack skiffs were destroyed.

FS Floreal and the Maritime Patrol Aircraft take part in the EUNAVFOR mission 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.

Because the ship was well prepared in accordance with the ’Best Management Practices’ with barbed wires and other Self Protection Measures, the pirates failed to board the vessel. Automatic weapons were fired, luckily no casualties were reported.
 
On indication of the attack EU NAVFOR Netherlands warship Evertsen just leaving the port of Salalah, was tasked to search and neutralize the pirate attack group. Canadian warship HMCS Fredericton of NATO, also in the area on counter piracy patrol, responded also and closed to participate in the search for the Pirate Attack Group.

In the evening Evertsen localized a dhow with two skiffs in the area of the earlier attack and fitting the given description. Evertsens boarding team secured the dhow and the two skiffs.  In total there were thirteen pirates and two of the original crew on board. Ladders, grappling hooks, and nine automatic weapons, 1 RPG with three grenades and cases with amunition were found. The suspected pirates have been detained.

HNLMS Evertsen takes part in the EU NAVFOR mission 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.

EU NAVFOR Greek warship HS Adrias was tasked to intercept and neutralize the suspected pirate groups. On the morning of the 18th November the Adrias boarding team sighted two attack skiffs and one ‘motherskiff’. They intercepted and boarded the group containing 10 men and all pirate related paraphernalia, including excess skiffs, were seized.

Following this event, and with support of an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Adrias continued the intercept of the other suspect group. Two skiffs and a mother ship were intercepted with a total of five suspected pirates. This group was also neutralized; this action continues towards disrupting piracy in this vast sea area where pirates had been known to operate and hijack ships before.

HS Adrias and the Maritime Patrol Aircraft take part in the EU NAVFOR mission 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.

Flag of the European Union

On Thursday 12 November, the EU NAVFOR French warship Floreal tracked down and apprehended the pirate attack group responsible for the recently reported attacks 500 miles north west of the Seychelles.

After previous attacks were reported on 10 and 11 November, and in particular the attempted hijacking of the BW Lion, the French warship Floreal was tasked to sanitize the area of the attacks. A EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol aircraft from the Seychelles found the pirate attack group and guided the Floreal onto their position. The Floreal found the pirate mother ship and two attack skiffs some 500 miles north west of the Seychelles and 650 miles east of Hobyo, a pirate stronghold on the coast of Somalia.

The pirates tried to dispose of weapons, ladders and other pirate paraphernalia but the Floreal was able to seize weapons, grappling hooks  and other equipment that left the ship in no doubt as to their intentions to carry out pirate attacks. French ship Floreal has taken the suspected pirates into custody.

The first attack was on MV FULL STRONG, a Hong Kong flagged 220 meter long Bulk Carrier. MV FULL STRONG was approached by pirates in 2 skiffs and a mother skiff but managed to evade the attack.

Shortly after this attack, in almost the same position, MV FENGLI 8, a Panama flagged 225 meter Bulk Carrier was attacked in two fast attack skiffs and one mother skiff. The master and crew were alert and immediately activated anti piracy measures (according to MSCHOA Best Management Practices) and, with speed and evasive action, they were able to avoid being hijacked.

EU NAVFOR Norwegian warship HNOMS Fridtjof Nansen on counter piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden has been tasked to search for the pirate attack group.

HNOMS Fridtjof Nansen takes part in the EU NAVFOR mission 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.