Operation Commander, Major General Magowan CBE, recently paid a visit to Operation Atalanta’s forces and staff that are deployed in Djibouti.

During his visit to Djibouti he was hosted by the German and Spanish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) detachments which fly regular aerial missions over the sea to help deter any potential pirate attacks on merchant vessels sailing across the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.  If the aircrews observe any suspicious activity, they pass the information to the Operation Atalanta flagship, HNLMS Tromp so that appropriate action can be taken to help keep seafarers safe.

Major General Magowan also met staff from the Support Element Atalanta (SEA), who provide vital logistical support to deployed Operation Atalanta staff, as well as the Croatian soldiers who are about to take over from the Serbian maritime protection team that is currently embarked on the World Food Programme vessel, MSM Douro.  MSM Douro is tasked with delivering much-needed humanitarian aid to the thousands of displaced people in Somalia, so it is crucial that the WFP vessel arrives safely in port.

Earlier in the week the Operation Commander also visited the Seychelles – a key regional partner in the fight against piracy.  Whilst there, he met with the Seychelles Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier Leopold Payet, and discussed the importance of remaining vigilant in the fight against piracy.  He also visited the crew of HNLMS Tromp during one of her counter-piracy patrols at sea off the Seychelles coast.