EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

On 3 December, ITS ZEFFIRO and her 225 crewmembers joined Operation ATALANTA.

The Italian frigate, under Command of Commander Marco Montoneri, is a Maestrale Class Frigate with a displacement of 3,000 tons and a length of 123 meters. She is equipped with two helicopters.

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. In addition, EU NAVFOR monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.