EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

Following the release of M/V IRENE E.M. and subsequent initial assistance by EU NAVFOR Netherlands warship HNLMS EVERTSEN on September 13th, HNLMS EVERTSEN was tasked to provide further assistance to M/V IRENE E.M.

On Tuesday morning14th of September the released crew was invited for a shower, a meal and some rest onboard HNLMS EVERTSEN, while the security team remained on board of the IRENE E.M. After captivity of five months, the invitation was well appreciated by the clearly relieved crew. Presently, IRENE E.M is awaiting orders from her owner on the continuation of her voyage.

The bulk carrier IRENE E.M. is owned by a Greek company, flagged from St. Vincent & The Grenadines and onboard is a crew of 22 Filipinos. The ship was pirated in April this year and has been at anchor off the Somali coast ever since.

HNLMS EVERTSEN is the flagship of the first European Union maritime operation, Atalanta. The mission is to protect vessels chartered by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) which supply international food aid to Somalia, to protect other vulnerable shipping in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast and to actively deter, disrupt and suppress acts of piracy.