EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

The programme commenced with a tour of the ship and her capabilities before moving onto more practical and specialist topics.  The specially tailored training programme covered Fire Fighting, Store keeping, engine maintenance and small boat operations which was of particular benefit to the Yemenis as well as the conduct of operations and operation management.

JOHAN DE WITT is ideal for training tasks and the capacity building of regional navies and coastguards, the combination of her embarked landing craft that can be used for practical exercises and the extensive facilities onboard make her an ideal platform.  Only last year one of her main tasks was to conduct training with regional maritime units off the west coast of Africa.

The Commanding Officer of HNLMS JOHAN DE WITT, Captain Ben Bekkering said: “The Yemeni’s were enthusiastic and open minded, and we learnt from their local knowledge and experience of the area.  It is obvious that maritime safety and stability is an international matter that everyone has to participate in.”

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 Unions Mission for 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.