EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

February 1^st marks the beginning of a new era in the Finnish Navy when FNS POHJANMAA joins EU NAVFOR Operation ATALANTA.

This is the first time the Finnish Navy has ever participated in an international naval military operation with a warship.

Finland has been contributing to Atalanta since the beginning of the operation with Finnish officers working in Force Headquarters as well as Operational Headquarters in Northwood.

FNS POHJANMAA is the flagship of the Finnish Navy. It was built in 1978 and commissioned into the Finnish Navy in 1979. She has a displacement of 1400 tonnes and a length of 79 metres. Her crew consists of 90 sailors. FNS POHJANMAA’S commanding officer is Commander Mika Raunu.

FNS POHJANMAA is well fitted to protect and escort vulnerable vessels, especially those of the World Food Program.

EUNAVFOR 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). EUNAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EUNAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.