EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

This morning, 7 of May, the EU NAVFOR Swedish Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected another Pirate Action Group (PAG), in the middle of Somali Basin.

EU NAVFOR Netherlands warship Johan de Witt, only 30 Nautical Miles from the position, was sent to intercept the suspected pirates by the Force Commander Jan Thörnqvist onboard the Flag ship HSwMS Carlskrona.

In mid-afternoon, HNLMS Johan de Witt found the PAG, consisting of one Whaler and two skiffs with a total of 11suspected pirates. During the approach, the suspected pirates were appeared to be trowing their weapons overboard. The mother ship and the two skiffs were stopped and, subsequently a boarding from Dutch marines, evidence of piracy was found.

All 11 pirates were taken on board Johan de Witt as well as the three pirate boats.

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 Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM and to protect vulnerable vessels in the Gulf  of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. EU NAVFOR alsomonitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.