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HNLMS AMSTERDAM joined EU NAVFOR on the area of operation on 10 September. HNLMS AMSTERDAM is a Fast Combat Support Ship that has been in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy since 1995. She has a displacement of 17,040 tons and a crew of 175.

Thanks to the protection of EU NAVFOR Flagship FS DE GRASSE, both MV MILTZOW, chartered by the World Food Program (WFP), and MV ALFA KIRAWIRA, chartered by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) transited safely from Mombasa to Mogadishu this week.

MV PANEGA was hijacked on 11 May 2010, approximately 100 nautical miles east of Aden (Yemen) in the Gulf of Aden. Today, 9 September, the vessel was released from Garacad from under pirate control.

Early on the morning of 8 September, the Merchant Vessel (MV) OLIB G, flagged Malta, was pirated in the East part of the Gulf of Aden.

EU NAVFOR welcomes the first judgement yesterday in a Kenyan prosecution in connection with the interdiction of a pirate group by an EU NAVFOR warship.

On 4 September, during its port visit in Salalah, a joint group made up of an Italian, Croatian and a Djiboutian officer from the EU NAVFOR Italian ship ITS LIBECCIO, visited Omani and Pakistani vessels in the port of Salalah (Oman).

During its port visit to Mombasa, EU NAVFOR French Flagship DE GRASSE explained once more the importance of Best Management Practices (BMP) in briefings to merchant vessel captains and crew.

As a new step in the collaboration between EU NAVFOR and Kenya, the French Flagship DE GRASSE welcomed five young Kenyan Navy officers on board for a day at sea.

On 5 September, while patrolling in the Gulf of Aden, the EU NAVFOR Spanish ship INFANTA CRISTINA was replenished at sea by the EU NAVFOR German Oil Tanker FGS RHOEN.

Sunday 6 September, the French frigate FS FLOREAL has integrated the EU NAVFOR Task Force 465, thus reinforcing EU NAVFOR presence in the area and enhancing capacity to fight against piracy.

During the French Flagship FS DE GRASSE’s port visit in Mombasa (Kenya), the Force Commander, Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, liaised with local authorities and partners.

The Japanese Vice Defence Minister, M. Daizo Kusuda, visited Northwood on 2 September as part of the European tour he is conducting. This provided an opportunity to discuss counter piracy operations with EU NAVFOR and NATO.