Dear reader,
April has been a particularly turbulent month in terms of piracy-related incidents in the Area of Operation. I would like to point out that, since the resurgence of piracy in November 2023, pirate networks had never before hijacked more than three vessels at the same time.
At the beginning of the month, the Iranian-flagged dhow ALWASEEMI 786, which had been hijacked off the coast of Somalia in late March, was released. This dhow, used as a mother ship by a piracy group, was quickly located and isolated to prevent it from posing a threat to merchant vessels in the vicinity. Ultimately, the pirates abandoned the fishing vessel off the Somali coast due to the pressure and constant presence of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA forces. As in previous cases, continuous coordination and cooperation with Somali police forces, in particular the Puntland Maritime Police Force, as well as with maritime security partners such as the Combined Maritime Force and the Seychelles Armed Forces, played a key role in the successful resolution of the incident.
Unfortunately, both the prevailing favourable weather conditions and the instability caused by regional conflicts, such as the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, are fuelling further acts of piracy. This trend was evident at the end of the month; soon after the tanker M/T HONOUR 25 was hijacked off the northern coast of Somalia the motor vessel SWARD fell into the hands of pirates in very close proximity. Both vessels are currently in Somali territorial waters. ATALANTA assets have been engaged in both incidents from the outset, in constant coordination with Somali police forces, and keeping fluent communications with companies and flag states. In line with maritime global institutions and ATALANTA’s mandate, our primary concern remains the release of the crews and vessels.
In addition to these incidents, the motor tanker EUREKA was hijacked while at anchor off a Yemeni Port. ATALANTA has managed to locate the vessel, which sailed into Somali territorial waters and is also in the vicinity of the two previous incidents.
In the coming days, ATALANTA will devote all resources and efforts to the successful resolution of these incidents. We are convinced that joint action with Somali police forces, supported by our maritime security partners, and keeping always our partnership with key stakeholders in the industry is the most effective way to reverse this resurgence of piracy. Today, we are not in the same situation like 15 years ago. ATALANTA, Somali forces and our partners are better prepared, more coordinated and familiar with the criminal groups’ capabilities and modus operandi.
Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Operation Commander
On 11 April, ATALANTA’s Deputy Operation Commander, Rear Admiral Paolo Fantoni, attended virtually the meeting of the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities (CGIMA) . He provided a briefing on the recent piracy cases and an assessment on the maritime security situation in the area of operation.
The Republic of Seychelles has officially assumed the Chairpersonship of CGIMA from the Republic of Kenya in February 2025. CGIMA annual conference is focused on engagement, cooperation, and transparency within key regional and global mechanisms, including the Djibouti Code of Conduct and the Indian Ocean Commission, to reinforce maritime security governance.
In April, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA’s Maritime Patrol Aircraft continues providing surveillance in the Area of Operation. Deployed in Djibouti in the Orion Detachment, the aircraft is key to increase maritime security awareness covering great distances over very long periods of time.
On 2 April, Operation ATALANTA Force Commander, Rear Admiral Daniele Paolo Martinuzzi, met the Deputy Commander of the Kenyan Navy Fleet, Colonel Robert Birech. The meeting was held on board the EUNAVFOR flagship ITS BIANCHI during her port visit in Mombasa, Kenya.
ATALANTA Force Commander warmly welcomed the Deputy Commander . They discussed ATALANTA’s means and capabilities, as well as the productive cooperation in maritime security. They highlighted the synergies achieved and the interactions between the ATALANTA Maritime Security Center Indian Ocean (MSCIO) and the Kenyan Maritime Operations Center. Moreover, the evolution of joint exercises such as the USALAMA BAHARINI series was also discussed. This effective cooperation pays a catalistic role in strengthening maritime security across the region.
On 5 April, the dhow ALWASEEMI was freed. The Iranian-flagged fishing vessel was finally abandoned by the pirate group on the north-eastern coast of Somalia, due to sustained pressure from ATALANTA. Ensuring the safety of hostages at all times, a smart combination of “concertina effect” conducted by ATALANTA surface and air assets, plus a close and permanent coordination with Somali maritime police forces ashore finally drove pirates to disembark and leave the dhow.
Following the release, ATALANTA forces boarded the fishing vessel to conduct the necessary verifications and searches to ensure the safety and welfare of the crew, while also providing food, water and medical assistance. Evidence and intelligence related to the incident were gathered in support of an eventual legal prosecution of the perpetrators.
From 13 to 14 April 2026, Operation ATALANTA Force Commander met some relevant military and civilian authorities during the EUNAVFOR Flagship ITS BIANCHI port visit in Victoria, Seychelles.
Rear Admiral Martinuzzi had the opportunity to visit the Seychelles Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) and the National Information Sharing Coordination Centre (NISCC), which share the same facilities. The relationship between those two centres and ATALANTA, in particular the MSCIO, is of great importance within the regional maritime security architecture.
Following the visit to the coordination centres, the Force Commander paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Victoria, Mrs. Josy Ita Michaud-Payet. The capital of Seychelles is a very important hub for ATALANTA. This city extends a cordial welcome and friendship to the crews, while also facilitating the logistical activities required to ensure ATALANTA units remain fully operational.
On 19 April, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA personnel conducted damage control training activities with Madagascar Navy members during the port visit to Antsiranana. The activities took place on board of ATALANTA frigate ESPS CANARIAS, allowing the Madagascar Navy to gain first-hand experience with firefighting equipment and procedures. Training in this area is crucial to mitigate risks at sea.
Following the training activities, ATALANTA asset ESPS CANARIAS Commanding officer Commander Juan David Garcia paid a visit on behalf of the Force Commander to the Prefect of Antsiranana M. Lucien Mananjara, the Ankarana Defense and Security Zone Commander, Brigadier General Fernand Joatina, and the Antsiranana Navy Base Commander, Captain Andry Guy Ohm Rafehizato. The engagements with civilian and military authorities allow EUNAVFOR ATALANTA to maintain robust relationships built on trust, consolidating the Operation’s credibility and visibility in the region.
On 21 April, a piracy incident involving the motor tanker HONOUR 25 was reported by EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA, in the Northern coast of Somalia. The ATALANTA and the Combined Maritime Force air assets confirmed the tanker's location within Somali territorial waters, prompting Operation forces to move toward the pirated tanker while the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) issued updated warnings.
By 22 April, Puntland’s Maritime Police announced the release of ALKHARY 2 and her crew, though the pirates remained aboard HONOUR 25. Afterward, ATALANTA units reached the tanker to assess the situation. Since then, ATALANTA forces continue to monitor the vessel closely, which is not currently considered a threat to other ships in the region
In addition to the previous piracy case, at the time of publishing the Newsletter, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA is monitoring two more piracy incidents in the region affecting the Merchant vessel SWARD and the Motor Tanker EUREKA.
Regarding the incident affecting the MV SWARD, ATALANTA confirmed that the vessel was pirated in the area of Dhinowda, Northern coast of Somalia on 26 April.
As for the piracy case involving the tanker EUREKA, she was pirated while anchored off a port in Yemen. ATALANTA assets were able to locate the vessel, which sailed into Somali territorial waters in the vicinity of the two previous incidents.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA continues in direct contact with Somali forces, in particular with the Puntland Maritime Police Force, exchanging relevant information effectively on the three piracy incidents, and devoting all their efforts to a successful resolution.
In April, EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA social media and website promoted the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) alerts on the three piracy cases and multiple incidents in the region, mainly along the North coast of Somalia.
The valuable and comprehensive information shared by the MSCIO is crucial for a secure navigation in the Western Indian Ocean.
On 13 April, the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA representatives and Seychelles Armed Forces personnel commenced planning for exercise ALDABRA V in Port Victoria, Seychelles. The ALDABRA series of exercises is highly valuable for both forces, as it helps to maintain effective coordination, foster mutual understanding and strengthens cooperative ties.
The exercise will take place in two phases, being the theoretical and training phase carried out in May and the LIVEX in late June. The exercise will bring together ATALANTA and Seychelles forces, along with some relevant partners in the region such as the Combined Maritime Force, CRIMARIO and UNODC. During the first phase, they will attend theoretical seminars, such as the legal framework of maritime operations, and drills at port, like maritime interdiction, and verification and search operations.
On 16 April, Operation ATALANTA representative participated in the Chile Joint Peace Operations Centre (CECOPAC) “Introduction to peace missions and crisis management” course as speaker. He provided the lecture “EU missions in practice: Operation ATALANTA“. The speech summarised a general overview of Operation ATALANTA, with a special focus on the cooperation network developed by the Operation during the more than 17 years of deployment in the Western Indian Ocean.
In April, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA was supported in different levels by ships from Spain, Italy and Greece.
In April, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA celebrated the following national day:
