EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

In the evening of 28 December, the Panama flagged (Greek owned) Bulk Carrier, the MV NAVIOS APOLLON, was hijacked approximately 200 nautical miles East of the Seychelles.

EU NAVFOR in monitoring the situation can confirm that the M/V NAVIOS APOLLON has now arrived off the coast of Somalia and is anchored off the pirate stronghold north east of Hobyo.

The NAVIOS APOLLON (Deadweight 52,073 tonnes) which has a crew of 19 (1 Greek and 18 Philippine) was destined for Thailand when hijacked.

The main tasks of EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy wherever possible.