Newsroom

Yesterday 8 August, Spanish frigate F-82 VICTORIA handed over to Spanish patrol craft P-77 INFANTA CRISTINA in the area of operation.

On 6 August, the Hellenic frigate ELLI conducted her final task as part of the EU NAVFOR Task Force.  During her 114 days in Task Force 465 she has conducted the full range of tasks in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin.

Late at night on Friday 6 August the MV SYRIA STAR requested medical assistance for two crewmembers that were injured in the initial hijack.

Today 6 August, EU NAVFOR’s capacities have been reinforced with the arrival of the French frigate FASM DUPLEIX in the area of operations.

During the afternoon of 5 Aug 2010, the MV SYRIA STAR reported that she was under attack from pirates who had climbed onboard and fired shots at the crew.  Helicopters were immediately dispatched to the vessel and tried to establish communications with the SYRIA STAR, which had stopped in the water.

Yesterday 3 August, EU NAVFOR ship SPS VICTORIA stopped a pirate attack on the MV BOW SAGA. The seven individuals apprehended have been returned to Somalia.

Early this morning Tuesday 3 August, the MV BOW SAGA sent a distress call that she was under attack from pirates in the middle of the Gulf of Aden. An EU NAVFOR unit close by sent her helicopter to assist and stopped the attack.

After an emergency call on the radio, from the merchant ship Cantabrian, EU NAVFOR warship SPS Victoria launched her helicopter to rescue a seaman in acute need of medical care.

The French Navy anti-submarine destroyer  de Grasse  left Toulon in southern France late 31 July, having embarked the future Atalanta force commander and his multinational staff.

EU NAVFOR / Task Force 465 is reinforced with the Italian frigate Libeccio. She will now serve as a EU NAVFOR warship and solve all kind of tasks in the anti piracy Operation Atalanta until the 30 November.

In the early hours of 2 August, the MV SUEZ reported being under small arms fire from a pirate attack and minutes later she reported pirates on board. After notification of the attack, attempts were made to make contact with the MV SUEZ but to no avail.