On Friday morning 13 December 2013, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean, who is the EU Force Commander for Operation Atalanta warships conducting counter piracy patrols off the Somali coast, visited Federal German Ship (FGS) Hessen.

After being flown on board FGS Hessen by the German warship’s Sea Lynx MK-88A helicopter, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean was given a tour of the ship and a briefing on the operational capabilities of the 124 class frigate.

FGS Hessen is a multi-purpose frigate and her principal tasks are force command and force air defence, but she is also fully capable, as her current role demonstrates, of conducting counter piracy operations.

FGS Hessen joined EU Naval Force Somalia, Operation Atalanta on Tuesday 3 December. As well as patrolling the seas off the Somali coast, she has also been busy conducting friendly approaches with local seafarers in order to gain better understanding of their concerns and the pattern of life at sea.

Before he departed FGS Hessen, the Force Commander spoke to the ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Dirk Jacobus and crew members about his priorities over the coming months and the security situation in the operating area. He also stressed the valuable contribution that FGS Hessen brings to Operation Atalanta and how he looks forward to close cooperation.