Atalanta’s next flag ship gets underway
August 2, 2010 - 13:46
The French Navy anti-submarine destroyer de Grasse left Toulon in southern France late 31 July, having embarked the future Atalanta force commander and his multinational staff.
Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, deputy commander of the French Naval High Readiness Force, will take over command of Task Force 465 and thus « de Grasse » will replace the current Swedish Force HQ on board « HSwMS Carlskrona ».
Before assuming command, transit from Toulon to the area of operation will be an opportunity to “warm-up the engines” and begin to optimize the battle rhythm. Once in Djibouti and after a few days of exchange with the Swedish staff, Rear-Admiral Coindreau and his staff will assume the command of TF 465, from August 14, 2010.
The staff comprises 29 sailors from 8 different nationalities. Including the flag ship’s crew members, a total of approximately 330 sailors on board destroyer « de Grasse » will be operating in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin as of mid-August.
EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Programme (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and 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.
Latest News
-
EU NAVFOR Somalia CTF-465 conducts integration activities off the Coast of Somalia for the new 37th rotation to settle in
-
Operation ATALANTA receives reinforcements of the shipping industry ( AZAMARA CRUISE)
-
Security considerations if diverting around Africa
Press releases
-
Force Commander EU NAVFOR Somalia meets with his CMF counterpart to coordinate and de-conflict after approval on new Operation Atalanta mandate
-
Operation ATALANTA´s new mandate enters into force on 1st of January 2021. New tasks will reinforce the EU NAVFOR’s counter-piracy core responsibilities.
-
EU NAVFOR ATALANTA PROVIDES SUPPORT TO UNODC YEMEN COAST GUARD REGENERATION STRATEGY