Press Releases

Within a week of taking over her anti piracy duties in the Gulf of Aden as the EU NAVFOR Flag Ship, Italian warship ETNA has shown her ability to react swiftly in a crisis.
Dec 17, 2009
The Swedish Government has announced that it is to send one Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) of the Swedish Coast Guard to join EU NAVFOR Somalia - OP ATALANTA in the early part of next year.
Dec 16, 2009
EU NAVFOR can confirm that the Greek cargo ship Ariana was freed on 10th December by Somali pirates after 7 months in captivity. The entire crew of 27 Ukrainian personnel, including 2 women, are believed to be well.
Dec 14, 2009
With a simple ceremony off Djibouti waters, onboard the EU NAVFOR Dutch warship EVERTSEN, RADM Giovanni GUMIERO, Italian Navy, took over Command of Task Force 465 from RADM Pieter BINDT, Netherlands Navy.
Dec 13, 2009
Today, 11 Dec 2009, Rear Admiral Thorsten Kaehler (German Navy) handed over the responsibility of Deputy Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia Operation ATALANTA, the EU anti-piracy campaign in the Horn of Africa area, to Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauzá (Spanish navy).
Dec 11, 2009
On 05 December a Pakistan flagged fishing vessel named Shahbaig was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, 320 nautical miles east of Socatra. With its 29 Persons on Board, understood to be Pakistani, the Somalian Pirates hold now 11 Ships and 283 Hostages along the Somali Coastline.
Dec 09, 2009
In the evening of December 6th approximately 250 nautical miles North West of Victoria Seychelles a pirate attack group was neutralized by EU NAVFOR and the Seychellois Coast Guard.
Dec 07, 2009
On December 7th 2009, EU NAVFOR Netherlands warship HNLMS Evertsen detected a sailing vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The region is considered a hotbed for piracy and is considered too dangerous for lone yachtsmen.
Dec 07, 2009
This afternoon the Antigua Barbuda flagged MV Charelle was released by pirates after spending nearly 6 months in pirate captivity. The MV Charelle was hijacked by pirates south of Oman the 12 June 2009. The ship has a crew of 10.
Dec 03, 2009
In the afternoon of 2 December, 150 nautical miles south of Salalah, Oman the Antigua & Barbuda flagged General Cargo Ship MV BBC Togo was attacked by pirates in two attack skiffs.
Dec 02, 2009
Despite increased tension in Mogadishu and a heightened pirate threat, the EU NAVFOR warship Louise-Marie escorted African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) ship Alpha Kirawira from Mombasa to Mogadishu.
Dec 02, 2009
On 29 November a Greek Crude Oil Tanker the M/V Maran Centaurus, was hijacked in the Somali Basin, 600 nautical miles North East of the Seychelles. The 300,294 tonne ship is now at anchor 30 nautical miles south of Hobyo.
Dec 02, 2009