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As of Thursday 13 March, the Spanish Offshore Patrol Vessel, ESPS Relámpago joined the EU Naval Force to carry out counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia. ESPS Relámpago has replaced ESPS Tornado as the Spanish contribution to Operation Atalanta.

On 6 March 2014, during the last port visit of the EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship, FS Siroco, the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean was invited to brief Seychellois government and administration representatives and diplomats on the EU’s c

During the last week, EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta warships FGS Hessen and ESPS Tornado have carried out several ‘Friendly Approaches’ in the Gulf of Aden.

During FS Siroco’s port visit to the Seychelles, 20 trainees from the Basic Training course for the Seychelles Coast Guard embarked for electronic navigation equipment training. The training was supported by staff from EUCAP Nestor.

A recent Operation Atalanta medal parade held in Djibouti marked the end of the Serbian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachments (AVPD) tenure with the EU Naval Force.

On Wednesday 26 February 2014, German Navy frigate, FGS Hessen which is operating as part of the EU Naval Force, and South Korean destroyer, Kang Gam Chan, met up in the Gulf of Aden to carry out a joint exercise.

Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sagaidachniy has successfully completed an operational tour with the EU Naval Force and is now sailing towards her home port of Sevastopol in the Ukraine.

During their recent 3-day port visit to Mombasa, the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean, paid a visit to Kenyan military and civilian authorities.

On Monday 24th February, European Union counter-piracy operation Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor, the civilian-led Maritime Security Capacity building EU Mission, hosted two training sessions for Tanzanian Maritime Police and Navy in Dar es Salaam to share knowledge and experiences in fight against piracy

During one of their counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, the EU Naval Force Ukrainian frigate, Hetman Sagaidachniy was tasked by the EU Force Headquarters to provide close protection at sea for a Lebanese-flagged merchant vessel, which had suffered engine failure and was drifting in the pirac

On Monday 17 February, during a ‘friendly approach’ with local seafarers, the medical team from German Navy frigate FGS Hessen, was able to provide eight local Somalia fishermen with medical examinations and some dental treatment.

On Tuesday 18 February, after the EU Naval Force flagship, FS Siroco, arrived in Mombasa for a port visit, the French warship’s commanding officer, Captain Jean-Marc Le Quilliec officially delivered diplomas to members of the Mauritians Coast Guard who had completed their training course at sea.