EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

In the early hours of 14 November, EU NAVFOR warship BNS LOUISE MARIE located an overturned Yemeni fishing vessel in the Gulf of Aden, 70 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast.

The Belgian warship, which had been patrolling the area as part of the EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA, discovered six fishermen clinging to the stricken vessel which had overturned but was still floating.

The fishermen (2 Yemeni, 2 Somali and 2 Tanzanian) reported that they were originally part of a ten-man crew.  The EU NAVFOR ship’s helicopter was immediately launched and a wider search of the area carried out to no avail.  Three of the crew were missing and one man was found to be dead at the scene.  The deceased fisherman was subsequently buried at sea.

The surviving crew members were taken on board the BNS LOUISE MARIE and given medical assistance, food and water before being handed over to Yemeni authorities on the morning of 15 November.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.