2010 June | Eunavfor

Hijacking of MV Golden Blessing in the Gulf of Aden

June 28, 2010 - 09:40

In the early hours of 28 June, pirates took control of the MV Golden Blessing approximately 90 nautical miles off the northern Somali coast. On notification from the Master of the MV Golden Blessing that pirates were on board, the EU NAVFOR German warship Schleswig-Holstein immediately launched their helicopter and reported sighting suspected pirates on board the […]

Force Commander Jan Thörnqvist in mid-term: “EU NAVFOR new tactics have reduced pirate attacks”

June 23, 2010 - 10:21

“EU NAVFOR’s new tactic has been successful, we are disrupting more suspected pirates near the coast, before they put on the high seas and conduct hijackings. The challenge is that once they get through they venture further and further out on the Indian Ocean,” said Rear Admiral (LH) Jan Thörnqvist when he sums up his […]

Yemeni Coast Guard being instructed in boarding and small boat operations.

EU NAVFOR conducts regional training with the YEMENI Coast Guard

June 18, 2010 - 14:02

EU NAVFOR ship HNLMS JOHAN DE WITT conducted a training package for 50 members of the Yemeni Coast Guard. The training programme was a combination of classroom theory and practical exercises. The programme commenced with a tour of the ship and her capabilities before moving onto more practical and specialist topics. The specially tailored training […]

EU NAVFOR proactive tactics proving successful in the Gulf of Aden

June 18, 2010 - 13:43

Today’s boarding of a suspected pirate skiff once again showed that the proactive tactics of the European Unions Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) are having increased success. These tactics have been used in the Indian Ocean and along the east coast of Somalia to such good effect that they are now being employed within the […]

High Representative Catherine Ashton congratulates Major General Buster Howes

June 14, 2010 - 17:15

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, congratulated Major General Buster Howes (UK) on taking office today as the new EU Operation Commander of Operation EUNAVFOR-ATALANTA. Major General Buster Howes succeeds Rear Admiral Hudson, who was leading the operation since 3 June 2009. Catherine Ashton said: “I would like […]

New Operation Commander

June 14, 2010 - 16:39

On 14 June 2010, Rear Admiral Hudson Peter Hudson CBE handed over the responsibility of Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Op ATALANTA to Major General Buster Howes OBE. The handover was conducted in the Operational Headquarters in Northwood near London. Rear Admiral Hudson, who joined the operation in June 2009, has […]

UK Flagged MV ASIAN GLORY released

June 11, 2010 - 16:40

On 11 June 2010, a ransom drop was made to the pirate group holding the merchant vessel MV ASIAN GLORY at anchor in the vicinity of Garacad on the eastern coast of Somalia. The UK flagged MV ASIAN GLORY, with deadweight of 13.363 metric tonnes, was hijacked late in the afternoon on the 1 January […]

The French EU NAVFOR warship NIVOSE conducting operations in the Gulf of Aden

French Frigate NIVÔSE departs EU NAVFOR Task Force after a four month deployment.

June 7, 2010 - 14:40

The French Frigate NIVÔSE has completed a four month deployment as part of the EU NAVFOR Somalia Task Force. During her deployment she disrupted numerous pirate action groups (PAGs) operating in the Indian Ocean, detaining many pirates and contributed extensively to the security and co-ordination of the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC) within the Gulf of Aden. […]

MV RIM abandoned by the crew

June 4, 2010 - 21:30

This afternoon, the crew of MV RIM abandoned the ship on the request of the master. EU NAVFOR warship Johan de Witt was close to the position and engaged in the rescue. The crew of MV RIM are now on board Johan de Witt and will be transferred to a safe port. EU NAVFOR Somalia […]

New Deputy Operation Commander

June 4, 2010 - 12:07

On 4 June 2010, Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá (Spanish Navy) handed over the responsibility of Deputy Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Op ATALANTA to Rear Admiral Thomas J. Ernst (German Navy). The handover was conducted in the Operation Headquarters in Northwood near London. Rear Admiral Bauzá, who joined the operation in […]

EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA