Having departed her home port in the Netherlands weeks earlier, on Thursday 27 August 2015 Royal Netherlands Navy warship, HNLMS Groningen, arrived in the Gulf of Aden to start her counter-piracy operations with the EU Naval Force.

During the next three months HNLMS Groningen will conduct counter-piracy patrols to deter piracy and help protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels carrying aid to the Somali people.  The Dutch warship will also assist with the training of local maritime forces to help develop and strengthen maritime capacities and security in the region.

As the warship raised the European Union flag next to the Dutch flag, the commanding officer, Commander Walter Hansen, stated that his crew were fully trained and ready for the busy and demanding months ahead.