Today is #worldoceansday and the deterrence of piracy will reduce the threat to seafarers off the coast of Somalia, enabling uninterrupted transit of maritime trade through the economically important sea-lanes around the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.

During the past week the EU Naval Force Italian Flagship, ITS Carlo Margottini has conducted combined counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia with surveillance support from the Maritime Patrol and Reconaissance Aircraft (MPRA) based in Djibouti.  Germany is a key contributing nation of the MPRA, alongside Spain, creating a highly capabile airbourne deterrant. EU Naval Force warships, helicopters and MPRA carry out coordinated patrols along the Somali coast and further out to sea on a regular basis.

These patrols demonstrate the European Union’s on-going commitment to help protect Somalia-bound World Food Programme humanitarian aid vessels and other cargo ships as they transit through the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.  Armed pirates still have the intent and capability to get out to sea to attack vessels and the warships and aircraft of EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta remain ever vigilant, ready to interdict acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea and lend assistance to mariners in peril.