Vice Admiral Betrand Aubriot Commander in Chief of the French Navy, visited the EU NAVFOR OHQ on Thursday 11 March to acquaint himself with the nerve centre of Operation Atalanta.

Vice Admiral  Aubriot received a briefing on the operation from the senior French Naval Officer, Captain Xavier Larreur, ACOS J3 Operations. The CinC met Rear Admiral Peter Hudson CBE, Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR, the previous evening.

Vice Admiral was briefed on the activities of OP ATALANTA and was brought up to date with the French contribution to the Mission. This contribution has been significant and, since the start of the operation, France has provided 19 warships, and numerous personnel to the OHQ in Northwood. French warships have been fully involved in deterring and disrupting pirate group attacks and, recently, the French frigate Nivos was involved in the capture of 35 pirates in the Indian Ocean. France generally contributes one Frigate and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft to EU NAVFOR.

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 AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt -piracy.  EU NAVFOR also monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.