FFG-525 MAANSHAN escorted the World Food Programme (WFP) vessel MV Dream

The Chinese PLA(Navy) warship MA’ANSHAN (FFG525) has today completed the first port-to-port escort of a World Food Programme (WFP) cargo ship into Somalia through the Gulf of Aden.

The M/V DREAM was carrying a cargo of 5,900 tonnes of food-aid which included maize and oil and had previously unloaded part of her cargo in Berbera before being escorted along the northern Somali coastline to Bosasso.  In March, the Chinese warship had been part of a coordinated escort with EU NAVFOR warships which had developed mutual understanding and confidence building with a daily exchange of information for escorting merchant vessels carrying WFP aid.
As part of the coalition of warships from many nations currently deployed into the region to protect merchant shipping from piracy, the MA’ANSHAN is part of a three ship PLA(Navy) deployment designated Task Force 526. With the threat of famine in the Horn of Africa following two years of drought, the delivery of food aid is essential and made possible with the continued presence of a number of warships and co-ordination between the different navies operating in the Indian Ocean is of paramount importance in order to increase the overall effectiveness of the deployed naval forces.

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 African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to protect vulnerable vessels 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”

Chinese Naval Ship MAANSHAN escorting the WFP vessel AMINA

On 22^nd to 25^th March, Chinese warship FFG-525 MAANSHAN (CTF-526) escorted the World Food Programme (WFP) vessel AMINA from Berbera to Bosasso.

After the meeting between COMEUNAVFOR and the Commander of the Chinese Force (CTF-529), which took place on board the Spanish Flagship CANARIAS on 15^th February, a daily exchange of information and coordination for escorting merchant vessels carrying WFP aid has been carried out.  

SPS CANARIAS escorting the MV MASAR TRADE

Between the 11 and 18 January 2011, the EU NAVFOR Italian warship ITS Zeffiro and the Spanish warship SPS CANARIAS successfully completed the escort of the MV MASAR TRADE, chartered by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

The ITS ZEFFIRO started the escort and then handed over to SPS CANARIAS, which completed the final stages.
MV MASAR TRADE, sailing under the flag of the Comoros Islands, was transporting a substantial amount of food aid for Somalia.  The vessel reached the Somali port of Berbera safely on 18 January delivering a further 2,223 tonnes of food and other goods.

It is EU NAVFOR’s priority mission to escort WFP merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid, along with vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

A considerable part of the Somali population is living in poverty and millions of people are dependent on the help offered by the international community. It is therefore of particular importance that these food transports arrive at their destination safely, without being targeted by pirates.

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, 92 WFP chartered vessels have already been safely escorted by EU NAVFOR warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of 474,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average 1,138,000 Somalis each day.

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  African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

EUNAVFOR German ship FGS Hamburg escorting the WFP chartered MV FADHIL RABI in the vicinity of Berbera

The MV FATHIL RABI, chartered by the World Food Program (WFP), was safely escorted by the two EUNAVFOR warships HS ADRIAS and FGS HAMBURG over the last 2 weeks, helping in the delivery of 2,397 metric tons of food to Somalia.

The Greek ship HS ADRIAS first escorted the vessel from Mombasa (Kenya) to Berbera (Somalia), with the German ship FGS HAMBURG escorting it from Berbera to Bossasso (Somalia). 

The Estonian Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD), operating from the FGS HAMBURG, was embarked onboard the MV FATHIL RABI during the return transit.

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. In addition, EUNAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

EU NAVFOR Spanish warship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA completing the escort of the Merchant Vessel VICTORIA, chartered by the World Food Program

This week, the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA completed the escort of the Merchant Vessel VICTORIA, chartered by the World Food Program, until Bosaasso (Somalia). 

On 21 October, the EU NAVFOR ship SPS INFANTA CRISTINA left Djibouti for Berbera (Somalia), escorting the MV VICTORIA. On 26 October, the warship conducted a second escort of the vessel from Berbera to Bosaasso.

Both escorts in this pirate-infested area were carried out smoothly and without any incident. They enabled the World Food Program to deliver a total of 7,660 tons of humanitarian aid (pulses, maize and corn-soya blend) to the population in Somalia.

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, 95 WFP chartered vessels have already been safely escorted by warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of 465,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average 1,350,000 Somalis each day.

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  African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

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EU NAVFOR Swedish warship HSwMS CARLSKRONA escorting MV PETRA 1

On 18 October, the EU NAVFOR Swedish warship HSwMS CARLSKRONA completed another grouped escort for both the World Food Program (WFP) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

During three days the MV PETRA I (AMISOM) and the MV MASAR TRADE (WFP) were successfully protected by the warship from Mombasa in Kenya, to Mogadishu in Somalia. The two vessels arrived safely at their destination with humanitarian aid and other logistic supplies. More than 6,700 metric tons food (maize and pulses) were notably delivered onto the Somali shore.

“What we are doing here is very important. Personally I’m very satisfied with our mission and what we do for the people of Somalia”, says LT Victor Lundqvist, a combat information officer onboard HSwMS CARLSKRONA.

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  African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

More stories about EU NAVFOR escorts:

-          WFP escort by EU NAVFOR Dutch ship HNLMS AMSTERDAM

-          EU NAVFOR visits WFP headquarters in Rome, Italy

-          AMISOM escort by EU NAFOR Italian ship ITS LIBECCIO

-          WFP and AMISOM escort by EU NAVFOR French ship DE GRASSE

-          WFP and AMISOM escorts by EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE and FGS SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN

EU NAVFOR Dutch ship HNLMS AMSTERDAM escorts the WFP chartered MV CAPTAIN SAID

Yesterday, 17 October 2010, the EU NAVFOR Dutch warship HNLMS AMSTERDAM successfully achieved the escort of the MV CAPTAIN SAÏD, chartered by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

The vessel, sailing under the flag of the Comoro Islands, was transporting a substantial amount of food aid for Somalia. HNLMS AMSTERDAM waited for the ship outside the port of Berbera and safely escorted it to the port of Boosaaso.

A total of 6,997 metric tons of maize, corn-soya blend, palm oil and flour were delivered onto the Somali shore.

It is EU NAVFOR’s priority mission to escort WFP merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid, along with vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

A considerable part of the Somali population is living in poverty and millions of people are dependent on the help offered by the international community. It is therefore of particular importance that these food transports arrive at their destination safely, without being targeted by pirates.

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, 95 WFP chartered vessels have already been safely escorted by EU NAVFOR warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of 460,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average 1,350,000 Somalis each day.

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  African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

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Rear-Admiral Thomas Ernst, EU NAVFOR's Deputy Commander (left) and Mr Brian Lander, Head of Multilateral & NGO Relations of WFP (right), in front of WFP Headquarters in Rome, Italy

On Monday 4 October, EU NAVFOR’s Deputy Commander, Rear-Admiral Thomas Ernst, visited the World Food Programme (WFP) Headquarters in Rome, Italy, to discuss possible ways for EU NAVFOR to improve the assistance it provides to WFP vessels.

This visit was of high importance for EU NAVFOR as it is its priority mission to escort WFP merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid, along with vessels of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). “WFP will remain our mission focus and our primary customer”, stated Rear-Admiral Ernst during the visit.

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, 91 WFP chartered ships have already been safely escorted by EU NAVFOR warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of more than 446,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average more than 1,350,000 Somalis each day.

“Ongoing drought and civil unrest in central Somalia has left 70% of the population in the region in need of humanitarian assistance”, explains WFP on its website. “ [...] One in six Somali children is acutely malnourished – a total of some 240,000 children – the highest acute malnutrition rates anywhere in the world. In south and central Somalia these rates are even higher, reaching one in every five children. [...] Naval escorts continue to be necessary for ships carrying WFP food into Somalia, in order to protect against the threat of piracy.”

Mr Thompson, WFP Logistic officer, compared the situation today to that of 2005 and explained to Rear-Admiral Ernst that EU NAVFOR escorts had made a huge difference for the safety of the vessels transits.

World Food Programme in Mombasa (Kenya)

Thanks to the protection of EU NAVFOR Flagship FS DE GRASSE, both MV MILTZOW, chartered by the World Food Program (WFP), and MV ALFA KIRAWIRA, chartered by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) transited safely from Mombasa to Mogadishu this week.

The WFP shipment on MV MILTZOW delivered 651 tons of Humanitarian Aid to Mogadishu. MV ALFA KIRAWIRA carried important logistics supplies to AMISOM.

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, 84 WFP chartered ships have been safely escorted by EU NAVFOR warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of more than 410,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average more than 1,350,000 Somalis each day.

“Ongoing drought and civil unrest in central Somalia has left 70% of the population in the region in need of humanitarian assistance, explains WFP on its website. [...] One in six Somali children is acutely malnourished – a total of some 240,000 children – the highest acute malnutrition rates anywhere in the world. In south and central Somalia these rates are even higher, reaching one in every five children. [...] Naval escorts continue to be necessary for ships carrying WFP food into Somalia, in order to protect against the threat of piracy.”

EU NAVFOR has also escorted nearly 60 AMISOM logistic vessels running into Mogadishu, to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The European Union Member States support the AMISOM in order to improve, in particular, the efficiency of the Somali Police Force and to combat any abuse and serious violations of Human Rights.

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  African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

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EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE escorting AMISOM vessel

After ten days chasing and disrupting suspect skiffs in the Gulf of Aden, the French EUNAVFOR Flag ship DE GRASSE headed south to the Somali Basin, to conduct the EU NAVFOR primary task: protection of merchant vessels (MV) chartered by World Food Program (WFP) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Under the coordination of the Force Headquarters Afloat, warships FS DE GRASSE and FGS SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, took over the escort duties of three merchant vessels transiting the area.

FGS SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN left Mombasa, escorting both MV Victoria (WFP) and MV Alfa Kirawira (AMISOM). She dropped off MV Kirawira in Mogadishu, before continuing the protection of MV Victoria, North to the Somali coastal port of Bossasso. FS DE GRASSE escorted MV Alfa Kirawira on the return transit from Mogadishu to Mombasa, before heading North again to Mogadishu, protecting MV Petra I (AMISOM).

Since the beginning of the operation in 2008, more than 80 WFP chartered ships have been safely escorted by EU NAVFOR warships. These escorts helped in the delivery of more than 410,000 metric tons of food to Somali, feeding on average more than 1,350,000 Somalis each day. “Naval escorts continue to be necessary for ships carrying WFP food into Somalia, in order to protect against the threat of piracy.” (Source: www.wfp.org)

This week, MV Victoria, who was escorted by EU NAVFOR warships, delivered 4,300 tons of maize to Somali.

EU NAVFOR has also escorted nearly 60 AMISOM logistic vessels running into Mogadishu, to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.