EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

On the 9 of February 2010, the Panama flagged bulk carrier M/V AL KHALIQ, with a crew of 26 (24 Indians and 2 Burmese), was released after payment of a ransom.

The M/V AL KHALIQ was hijacked on the early morning on the 22 of October 2009, 180 nautical miles west of the Seychelles. The Marine Tug ALPHA PINA from the owner is providing supplies to the ship. There is no help requested form EU NAVFOR.

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.